Standard Job Description

About the role

We're looking for a Senior Indirect Procurement Specialist to join our team on a 12 Month Contract based from our Advanced Manufacturing Facility in Ampthill, Bedfordshire.  This role benefits from our 4xFlex working pattern, offering a 4-day working week Monday - Thursday and hybrid working.  Onsite working days are Monday and Tuesday, with Wednesday and Thursday typically worked from home subject to business needs.

This role is part of the Lockheed Martin UK Supply Chain Organisation managing the total supply chain for indirect goods and services to meet a variety of programme and business requirements. 

Focussing on managing supplier delivery, it primarily supports the facility, equipment and service requirements to support our development and production programmes in Armoured Vehicles, Platform Integration, Special Projects and Weapons areas & domains to meet domestic and international programme and business needs.

Success requires experience of working in a functional organisation and a blend of proven skills including relationship building and achievement of deliveries on time and in full, through the ability to successfully negotiate and manage procurements, ranging from simple to complex subcontracts. This will be coupled with effectively working within a multi-disciplinary product team including Facilities, Engineering, Operations and Quality.   

The role focusses on tactical management and reporting on a variety of indirect contracts including but not limited to Facilities Management (FM) Hard Services, Facilities Management (FM) Soft Services and Capital Acquisition of manufacturing machinery.

Specific Responsibilities include:

• Undertaking the procurement processes including issuing RFQ’s, Invitation to Tender, negotiating Terms and Conditions, bid evaluation, and award of contract.
• Holding a procurement delegation and signing supplier agreements and purchase orders within this limit.
• Negotiating with suppliers to ensure best value is achieved.
• Providing expertise, support, advice and guidance to internal customers on procurement policy and procedures including contract management.
• Managing and monitoring contracts to ensure all parties meet their contractual obligations.
• Achieving the successful delivery of procurements including the management of schedule, applying extensive supply chain expertise, and demonstrating full knowledge of, and successful interactions with other related disciplines.
• Developing and maintaining stakeholder relationships with key internal and external business contacts to achieve mutual benefit including representing the organisation/programme as the prime tactical contact, interacting with Senior external personnel on significant tactical and  strategic matters.
• Ensuring procurement activities are compliant with internal/legislative procedures, and that risks are identified and managed.
• Providing the key interface between internal customers and suppliers to ensure that communication is effectively managed, and issues and risks are fully understood and managed.
• Supporting internal and external reviews of supplier performance as required.
• Contributing to the continual improvement of the supply chain processes.

The successful candidate must achieve the appropriate level (SC) of security clearance. More details can be found here.

Required skills, qualifications and experience

• Proven experience as an Indirect Buyer
• Buying for Facilities Management Hard and Soft services.
• Proven experience in Minor Works Projects – office refurbishment projects typically £10k - £500k 
• Capital Acquisition of manufacturing machinery and IT equipment.
• Excellent understanding of procurement best practice.
• Knowledge of strategic sourcing and advanced procurement techniques/tools.
• Excellent commercial skills with the ability to analyse and negotiate best-value agreements
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to effectively manage stakeholders’ expectations at a variety of levels.
• Data literate with strong analytical skills.
• Highly motivated, determined, and committed individual with a proven record of achieving cost saving targets/objectives.
• Individual who thrives on challenges, and has experience working within a fast-paced procurement function or similar environment.
• Proven Supplier Relationship Management skills
• Understanding of related disciplines/departments within a design and manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work assignments without significant/appreciable direction, exercising considerable latitude in determining approaches to assignments.
• Extensive Contract Management experience.
• Proficient in the use of MS Office applications.
• Flexibility to travel as required.

Desired Skills

• New Build Construction projects typically £500k- £3.5m utilising JCT Minor Works Building Contract with Contractors Design or similar.
• Mechanical (fabrications/machined items) and Electrical (box-build, cables, components) buying experience.
• Supply chain experience in the defence environment.
• Experience in the various phases of the product lifecycle from proposal capture, programme start-up, development, production, sustainment and end-of-life.
• Knowledge of SAP ERP system.
• Bachelors’ degree in a business/scientific/technical discipline.
• Knowledge/experience of process improvement methodologies.
• MCIPS or working towards CIPS.