At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement strategies for defence and aerospace projects, driving cost reduction and supplier performance.
- Company: Join Babcock, a global leader in national security and public infrastructure.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holiday, pension scheme, and health support.
- Other info: Flexible working options and excellent career development opportunities await you.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national security while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement and team leadership; degree in engineering or supply chain preferred.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Location: Stoke Gifford, Bristol + Hybrid Working Arrangements
Compensation: Competitive Salary + Benefits
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
Role ID: SF70456
At Babcock, we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Programme Procurement Manager across our Bristol, Tewkesbury and Plymouth sites.
The Role
As a Programme Procurement Manager, you’ll set and deliver the procurement and supply chain strategy across complex, fast‑moving defence and aerospace programmes, driving total cost reduction, supplier performance, and long‑term value. Your impact will be felt across national security projects and throughout our business, while you grow as a people leader and strategic sourcing expert in a high‑profile environment.
Day-to-day, you’ll be required to:
- Lead a high‑performing team of Senior Buyers and Buyers to deliver project outcomes on time and to customer requirements.
- Own category and project procurement strategies, improving contract maturity and supplier value.
- Negotiate major supplier agreements and manage selection to secure best‑value, compliant contracts.
- Drive supplier performance and escalate risks to resolution across cost, quality, delivery and sustainability.
- Report monthly on KPIs and requirements, collaborating with senior stakeholders across engineering, commercial, finance and projects.
This role is full time, 37 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements with up to 3 days onsite, across our Bristol, Tewkesbury and Plymouth sites, and 2 days working from home.
Essential experience of the Programme Procurement Manager
- Significant procurement experience in a project procurement environment, including team leadership.
- Proven supplier relationship management and stakeholder engagement at senior levels.
- Demonstrable negotiation, contract and commercial skills delivering measurable cost and value outcomes.
- Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, reactive environment while coaching others to succeed.
- Strong data analysis capability to inform decisions and KPI reporting.
Qualifications for the Programme Procurement Manager
- A recognised degree‑level qualification and/or relevant experience in engineering, supply chain or lean culture (essential).
- Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Level 5+ or membership of a relevant professional body (preferred).
Security Clearance
The successful candidate must be a SOLE UK National who is able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.
What We Offer
- Generous holiday allowance
- Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
- Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
- Employee share scheme
- Employee shopping savings portal
- Payment of Professional Fees
- Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave
- Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement.
- ‘Be Kind Day’ enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
- Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.
Babcock
We’re Babcock - a global FTSE 100 organisation with over 26,000 people working together to make a difference. Here, you’ll be part of something bigger. From initial design to final decommissioning, your work will contribute to products and services that are essential to national security and public infrastructure. Together, we’re building a future that lasts - not just through the impact we make, but through meaningful careers that respect your work-life balance. We call that lifetime engineering.
Join us and see how far we can go, together.
We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email careers@babcockinternational.com with the subject header ‘Reasonable adjustments requirement’. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.
Closing Date: 27/04/2026
Strategic Defence Procurement Lead in Gloucester employer: Nuclearinst
At Babcock, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation across our Bristol, Tewkesbury, and Plymouth sites. With competitive salaries, generous benefits, and a strong commitment to employee development, we empower our team members to thrive in their careers while contributing to vital national security projects. Our hybrid working arrangements and focus on work-life balance ensure that you can make a meaningful impact in a supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Defence Procurement Lead in Gloucester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the defence and procurement sectors on LinkedIn. Join relevant groups, engage in discussions, and don’t be shy to ask for informational interviews. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching Babcock and its projects. Understand their values and how your experience aligns with their mission. Tailor your responses to highlight your strategic sourcing skills and team leadership experience – that’s what they’re after!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! Since this role involves negotiating major supplier agreements, consider role-playing scenarios with friends or mentors. The more comfortable you are, the better you’ll perform when it counts.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us. Let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Defence Procurement Lead in Gloucester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Programme Procurement Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in procurement and team leadership, and show us how you can drive supplier performance and deliver project outcomes.
Show Off Your Skills:Don’t hold back on showcasing your negotiation and contract management skills. We want to see how you've delivered measurable cost and value outcomes in your previous roles, so give us some solid examples!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your achievements and qualifications. We love a well-structured application!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Nuclearinst
✨Know Your Procurement Strategies
Before the interview, brush up on your knowledge of procurement strategies, especially in the defence and aerospace sectors. Be ready to discuss how you would approach category management and supplier performance, as these are key aspects of the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading teams, particularly in a fast-paced environment. Discuss how you've coached others to succeed and driven project outcomes, as this will resonate well with their focus on high-performing teams.
✨Master Negotiation Techniques
Since negotiation is crucial for this role, think of specific instances where you've successfully negotiated contracts or agreements. Be prepared to explain your approach and the measurable outcomes you achieved, as this will demonstrate your commercial skills.
✨Engage with Data Analysis
Familiarise yourself with data analysis techniques relevant to procurement. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to inform decisions and report on KPIs, as this aligns with their emphasis on strong analytical capabilities.
