Job Title: Strategic Procurement Manager
Location: Coventry, UK
Core Hours: 08:00-16:35 (Mon Thu) 08:00-15:10 (Fri)
Vacancy Type: Full-time and Permanent
Salary: circa £65,000 (subject to experience) + Discretionary Bonus
The job
As the Strategic Procurement Manager, you will lead procurement activity across production, indirect, and capital expenditure spend, ensuring goods and services are sourced effectively and meet cost, quality, and delivery requirements.
This role brings together strategic sourcing, supplier performance management, and operational execution. You will ensure materials and services are available to meet business demand, while driving continuous improvement, cost efficiency, and supply chain resilience.
You will also act as the point of escalation for all non project related purchasing activity, ensuring issues are resolved effectively and in line with business priorities.
In addition, you will hold accountability for the development, implementation, and governance of call off contract methodologies, ensuring procurement execution across the business is structured, controlled, and efficient.
As part of the role, you will have direct line management responsibility for four current team members.
What you'll get in return
At NP Aerospace, we know our success comes from our people. Thats why we invest in benefits that support your health, reward your hard work, and help you grow your career:
- Performance rewards discretionary bonus opportunities
- Flex your day flexible start and finish times (subject to manager approval and operational needs)
- Time to recharge 25 days holiday + 8 bank holidays, with the option to buy more through our Holiday Purchase Scheme
- Support for Defence two weeks paid leave for Reservists and Cadets, plus paid leave for Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs)
- Future security competitive pension scheme (9% combined employer/employee contributions
- Peace of mind life cover at 3x base salary
- Health & wellbeing first BHSF Cash Healthcare Plan to support everyday health costs
- Grow with us career development and advancement opportunities within a global business
- Supportive environment a team culture built on innovation, collaboration, and purpose
What you'll be doing
Leadership and team management
- Lead and develop the procurement function to deliver strategic and operational objectives, with clear priorities and strong accountability.
- Drive a high-performance culture of accountability and continuous improvement across the team.
- Manage procurement activity across direct, indirect and CapEx spend, ensuring effective governance and prioritisation.
- Act as the primary escalation point for non-project procurement issues, resolving blockers quickly and in line with business priorities.
- Build capability through the adoption of professional purchasing methodologies and best practice.
- Align resource planning with business demand, ensuring the function can respond at pace.
Strategic sourcing and supplier management
- Develop and execute sourcing strategies that balance cost, risk, quality and continuity of supply.
- Select and onboard suppliers against defined commercial and technical criteria.
- Establish and manage SLAs with key suppliers, ensuring measurable performance and clear expectations.
- Lead SRM activity and supplier performance improvement, turning issues into sustainable fixes.
- Implement category strategies, particularly for indirect and CapEx, to drive control and value.
- Build strategic supplier partnerships that strengthen resilience and long-term performance.
Call off contract management and governance
- Establish and govern call off contract frameworks and processes to ensure structured, controlled execution across the business.
- Convert demand (MRP and forecast) into controlled call off orders via QAD.
- Ensure compliance with contractual, commercial and pricing structures.
- Monitor supplier performance against call off commitments and SLAs, acting where performance drops.
- Drive process efficiency and supplier reliability improvements across call off execution.
- Own escalation of call off execution issues and ensure effective resolution.
Commercial and contractual management
- Lead supplier negotiations to secure optimal commercial outcomes.
- Develop and manage robust supply contracts that protect the business and support delivery.
- Deliver cost savings, cost avoidance and working capital improvements.
Operational procurement execution
- Ensure timely availability of materials and services to support operational demand.
- Oversee ERP and MRP (QAD) procurement execution and discipline.
- Govern call off order release against framework agreements.
- Align cross functional demand and supply, keeping stakeholders informed and aligned.
- Enforce procurement compliance and controls to reduce risk and improve consistency.
Performance and continuous improvement
- Define and track procurement KPIs across cost, delivery, quality and supplier performance.
- Maintain supplier scorecards and performance reporting that drives action and accountability.
- Ensure compliance to SLAs and call off processes.
- Drive continuous improvement and risk management to strengthen supply chain resilience.
The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities.
Our team embraces modern technologies, including AI-assisted tools, to work smarter and deliver better results. Candidates should either have experience using AI tools or demonstrate a willingness to learn and apply them in their role.
Experience
Essential
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Significant experience in a senior procurement role within a manufacturing or engineering environment, with responsibility for both strategic and operational delivery.
- Strong experience using ERP and MRP systems to manage demand, control ordering discipline and maintain accurate procurement data (QAD desirable).
- Proven track record of supplier negotiation and contract management, securing strong commercial outcomes and protecting continuity of supply.
- Experience managing direct, indirect and CapEx procurement, with the ability to prioritise competing demands and maintain effective governance.
- Strong commercial acumen and analytical capability, confident interpreting data to improve performance, reduce cost and manage risk.
- Demonstrable leadership experience, including developing teams, improving ways of working and driving consistent standards and accountability.
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Experience of using AI tools or demonstrates a willingness to learn and apply AI in role.
Ability assessment
As part of the interview process, you may be asked to deliver a short presentation on a relevant engineering topic. Full details and preparation guidance will be shared in advance of the final interview stage.
What do we do at NP Aerospace?
NP Aerospace is a global leader in armour technology manufacturing and vehicle integration, delivering high-performance, lifesaving solutions for the defence and security industry.
Our mission is to improve and protect lives, and our vision is to be a leading provider of innovative solutions that solve our customers' complex challenges. Our values - Respect, Collaboration, Integrity, and Dedication form the bedrock of our culture.
Our extensive range of combat-proven body armour, from ballistic helmets, plates, and shields to bomb disposal suits, highlights some of the most advanced composite materials. With a team of R&D engineers working on next-generation solutions, we also excel in highly engineered vehicle systems and armour platforms used by some of the worlds largest defence organisations.
Founded in 1926, NP Aerospace has served the defence industry for over 40 years, evolving into an agile and diverse company. Our Business Development team is expanding both in the UK and North America.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: NP Aerospace is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of race, colour, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We are also fully committed to supporting the Defence Community and actively advertise roles on Defence specific platforms such as CTP, Force Families, Forces Employment Charity, and Veterans Job Board.
Data Privacy: NP Aerospace respects the privacy of all applicants. Personal information provided during the application process will be treated in accordance with our privacy policy and applicable data protection laws.
Please note: If successful, you will be required to sign the Official Secrets Act and successfully pass the necessary checks before you can begin your employment with NP Aerospace.
