Sub-Contract Manager in Helensburgh

Location: Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute

Compensation: £45,000 - £52,000

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Shape critical infrastructure. Strengthen national security. Build a career with purpose. At Babcock, we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Sub-Contract Manager at HM Naval Base Clyde, near Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute. Babcock is a trusted partner to the UK’s defence, aerospace and engineering sectors. Our work supports vital national infrastructure, protects communities and underpins long‑term security. Here, you’ll find more than a job — you’ll discover a career with real impact, backed by development, flexibility and a strong sense of pride in what we do.

The role

As a Sub-Contract Manager, you’ll have overall accountability for the design, execution and performance of sub‑contract services across major Naval Base and Infrastructure projects at Clyde. Managing projects with values of up to £8 million, you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering complex programmes that directly support defence capability and public infrastructure. This is an exciting opportunity to influence outcomes at scale — shaping high‑performing supply chains, driving value, managing risk and ensuring delivery to time, cost and quality. You’ll work closely with internal teams and trusted suppliers, building strong relationships and contributing to programmes that matter. Alongside the impact you’ll make, you’ll gain exposure to complex contracts, senior stakeholders and long‑term development opportunities within a global engineering organisation.

Day‑to‑day responsibilities

• Establishing project and programme requirements, including those driven by the future bid pipeline
• Designing and engaging supply chains that meet programme, commercial and operational needs
• Managing sub‑contract delivery and assuring supplier performance against time, cost and quality
• Implementing governance, controls and reporting to support project compliance and senior reviews
• Managing risk and returned value throughout the full project lifecycle

This is a full‑time role, working 36 hours per week, based at HMNB Clyde. Hybrid working patterns are available, and travel to other Babcock and customer sites may be required.

Essential experience

• Proven experience in procurement, sourcing or subcontract management within a complex delivery environment
• Strong understanding of contract terms and conditions, including drafting and managing flow‑down terms
• Experience planning and implementing supply arrangements and managing supplier performance
• Commercial acumen with an understanding of cost models, forecasting, valuations and supplier costing
• Ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with senior stakeholders and cross‑functional teams

Qualifications

• Degree‑level education or significant, demonstrable experience in a similar commercial or procurement role
• Professional qualifications in procurement or contract management would be advantageous

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. Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held.

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: 29/05/26