Indirect Procurement Services Advisor

Leonardo; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A global leader in aerospace and defense is looking for a Procurement Manager to oversee indirect procurement strategies in Reading, UK. This role will involve managing the end-to-end procurement process, leading a team, and negotiating contracts. The ideal candidate will have extensive supply chain experience and strong negotiating skills. You will also be responsible for developing sourcing solutions and ensuring compliance with defense regulations. Join us to be part of an innovative team committed to safety and technology advancement.

Benefits

Generous leave including up to 12 flexi-days

Award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution

Free mental health support and financial advice

Bonus scheme for all management level employees

Free access to online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning

Referral programme financial rewards

Flexible benefits including healthcare and gym memberships

Flexible hours with hybrid working options

Qualifications

• Extensive Supply Chain experience.
• Understanding of defence regulations, compliance, and security requirements.
• Experience leading a team and motivating both direct and virtual teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end procurement process for indirect projects.
• Deliver effective management and leadership to assigned category team.
• Lead sourcing and contracting procurement process, including tender pack development.

Skills

Supply Chain experience

Negotiating skills

Decision making

Effective communication

Planning and optimization

Collaboration

Job description

Job Description : Your Impact

You will work as a member of a joint venture team within the Indirect Procurement team. This will include managing joint venture Indirect Procurement requirements. The role sits within the Indirect Procurement team which interfaces with functional teams, providing over‑arching indirect procurement services.

You will be required to manage the end‑to‑end procurement process for all Indirect Procurement projects within your designated category. This includes active involvement at all stages of the project lifecycle starting with stakeholder and demand management, sourcing and tendering, contract negotiation and supplier management.

This role will require you to work with multiple stakeholders including project managers, budget holders, SMEs, in‑house consultants, and external suppliers to devise and execute a suitable procurement strategy that delivers project and corporate value.

What you’ll do

• Delivering effective management and leadership to the assigned category team of Supply Chain Professionals, creating the environment for the team to succeed whilst delivering a broad scope of projects to time, quality and cost standards.
• Working with the wider business and its external professional teams to support the development of sourcing and contracting solutions / strategies for the joint venture.
• Provide commercial and supply chain support to the delivery programmes.
• Leading the sourcing, pre‑qualification and contracting procurement process, inclusive of tender pack development, evaluation and award.
• Negotiating and preparing contract documents.
• Managing Framework Agreements.
• Negotiating and finalising contracts with the external supply chain, providing cost and pricing expertise.
• Actively identifying and delivering savings and project value in support of the Indirect Procurement Services value proposition.
• Indirect Category strategies – e.g. Infrastructure, facilities, consultancy, technology, travel, payment solutions etc.

What you’ll bring

• Extensive Supply Chain experience.
• Understanding of defence regulations, compliance, and security requirements.
• Experience of integration, setting targets, and co‑ordinating activities.
• Experience of leading a team and proven ability to motivate direct and virtual teams across the business, externally and internationally.

Negotiating skills

• Decision making skills and ability to translate strategy into action creating winning solutions and output for the business.
• An effective communicator, able to manage messages into multiple audiences.
• Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders creating good relationships.
• Expertise in planning, implementing, and optimising supply chain processes.
• Proficiency in identifying supply chain risks.

Desirable skills

• Preferably in a high volume, fast paced aerospace, defence, regulated or manufacturing market.
• Experience working with international partners would be beneficial.
• Experience of working in a complex programme environment, particularly complex development contracts.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre‑employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit:

Why join us

• Time to Recharge – Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi‑days each year.
• Secure your Future – Benefit from our award‑winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters – Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee‑led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance – All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning – Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend – Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks – Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working – Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Be part of something bigger – apply now.