Procurement Category Manager – Machining Category

Rolls-Royce plc; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Annual Leave

Retirement Savings

Group Life Assurance

Income Protection

Matched Shares

Job summary

Rolls-Royce plc is seeking a Procurement Category Manager for Machining in Derby, operating in a hybrid setup with three days a week in the office. You will lead the In-Contract Excellence team, manage critical supplier relationships, and drive cost-out initiatives while delivering value through complex negotiations.

The role requires direct procurement experience in regulated environments, a BA degree or CIPS, and strong collaboration with Finance, Supplier Management, and Legal teams to

Qualifications

• Experience in Direct and/or Indirect Procurement within a regulated or complex industry.
• A degree (BA level) and/or CIPS qualifications.
• Excellent collaboration skills with internal Supplier Management, Finance and General Counsel teams.
• A track record of leading negotiations at a senior level and delivering commercial value.
• Expertise in relationship management, in-contract cost reduction and team leadership.
• Understanding of Total Cost of Acquisition / Product Cost Lifecycles and commercial levers.
• A passion for driving change and making a measurable difference.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, support and develop a team of Buyers, building confidence, resilience, and professional capability to engage effectively with challenging suppliers.
• Provide visible leadership on safety, ethics, and compliance, embedding these principles in every aspect of the team’s work.
• Lead major commercial negotiations on complex claims and near-term contract extensions, protecting our position while creating long-term value.
• Develop and deliver a pipeline of cost-out and value-creation initiatives, using commercial, technical, and operational levers to deliver sustained benefits.
• Take ownership of supplier relationship management (SRM) with group-level Aerospace suppliers, develop a Key Account Management approach to drive a unified Rolls-Royce action plan and communications.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, championing standard work, lessons learned, and smarter ways of working across the Procurement team.

Skills

Team leadership

Negotiation

Stakeholder collaboration

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

CIPS qualification

Job description

Job Description Procurement Category Manager – Machining Category Full time Derby/Hybrid (3 days a week in the office)

Why join Rolls-Royce?

At Rolls-Royce we are proud to be a business that has truly helped to shape the modern world and are committed to always being a force for progress; powering, protecting and connecting people everywhere. By joining Rolls-Royce, you'll have the opportunity to work on world-class solutions, supported by a culture that believes individuality is our greatest strength, and all perspectives, experiences and backgrounds help us innovate and enable our high-performance culture.

Position Summary

This is a fantastic opportunity to step into one of the most commercially significant areas of the Rolls-Royce supply chain. As part of the In-Contract Excellence team within the Machining category, you’ll gain first-hand experience managing our most critical supplier relationships while working alongside senior leaders and cross-functional partners. We are looking for a Procurement Category Manager to lead the In-Contract management of the key turbine and rotative suppliers within the Machining category. You’ll be at the forefront of delivering value from our existing contracts, ensuring both Rolls-Royce and our suppliers live up to their commitments. This role offers a real opportunity to make a measurable difference: building and supporting a team of Buyers in a challenging environment, reducing cost and driving supplier performance. You’ll blend leadership and hands-on commercial delivery, working closely with colleagues in Supplier Management Teams, Strategic Procurement, Engineering and Quality to turn opportunities into results. The role is ideal for someone who puts people leadership first whilst delivering complex negotiations — all within a fast-moving, high-profile environment.

What you will be doing

• Lead, motivate, support and develop a team of Buyers, building confidence, resilience, and professional capability to engage effectively with challenging suppliers.
• Provide visible leadership on safety, ethics, and compliance, embedding these principles in every aspect of the team’s work.
• Lead major commercial negotiations on complex claims and near-term contract extensions, protecting our position while creating long-term value.
• Develop and deliver a pipeline of cost-out and value-creation initiatives, using commercial, technical, and operational levers to deliver sustained benefits.
• Take ownership of supplier relationship management (SRM) with group-level Aerospace suppliers, develop a Key Account Management approach to drive a unified Rolls-Royce action plan and communications.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, championing standard work, lessons learned, and smarter ways of working across the Procurement team.

Position qualifications

• Experience in Direct and/or Indirect Procurement within a regulated or complex industry.
• A degree (BA level) and/or CIPS qualifications.
• Excellent collaboration skills with internal Supplier Management, Finance and General Counsel teams.
• A track record of leading negotiations at a senior level and delivering commercial value.
• Expertise in relationship management, in-contract cost reduction and team leadership.
• Understanding of Total Cost of Acquisition / Product Cost Lifecycles and commercial levers.
• A passion for driving change and making a measurable difference.

Regional Benefits

• Generous Annual Leave
• Retirement Savings
• Group Life Assurance provides for a lump sum benefit if you die whilst employed by Rolls-Royce Group
• Income Protection provides an income in the event that you are unable to work due to illness or injury
• Your Shares: Matched is a simple way to own Rolls-Royce shares and invest in our future, together. Buy one share, get one free!
• Our vision is to ensure that the excellence and ingenuity that shaped our history continues into our future. Our multi-year transformation programme aims to turn Rolls-Royce into a high-performing, competitive, resilient and growing company. Join us, and it can be your future vision too.

Rolls-Royce are committed to being a respectful, inclusive, and non-discriminatory workplace where individuality is valued, diverse perspectives fuel innovation, and everyone can thrive.

Closing date: 22nd October 2026

As part of our selection process, candidates in certain locations may be asked to complete an online assessment, which can include cognitive and behavioural aptitude testing relevant to the role. If required, full instructions for the next steps will be provided.

Rolls-Royce pioneers cutting-edge technologies that deliver the cleanest, safest and most competitive solutions to our planet’s vital power needs.