Procurement Lead - NPD

Norton Motorcycles; Metropolitan Borough of Solihull; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious motorcycle manufacturer in Solihull is looking for a Procurement Lead - NPD to oversee procurement activities in new product development. The role requires strong experience in supply chain management within automotive contexts, excellent communication skills, and a degree in engineering or business. Competitive salary, 33 days holiday, and various employee benefits are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary package

33 days of holiday

Generous pension scheme

Private Medical Insurance

Life insurance (4x salary)

FREE fruit

WeCare Employee Assistance Programme

Ideas for Excellence scheme

Employee events and activities

Free electric bicycle hire

On-site free parking and charge points

Qualifications

• Experience in automotive, motorcycle, or advanced manufacturing environment.
• Ability to make techno-commercial sourcing decisions.
• Confident presenter with clear articulation of complex information.

Responsibilities

• Lead procurement activities for new product development projects.
• Develop and execute procurement strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Manage procurement budgets for assigned projects and support value engineering.

Skills

Proven experience in procurement or supply chain management

Strong understanding of NPD / APQP / Stage-Gate project processes

Demonstrable experience in cost engineering

Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

Education

Engineering or business-related degree

CIPS qualification or working towards

Tools

ERP systems (e.g., SAP)

Job description

We’re not just another bike brand - we're an iconic, British motorcycle brand with over 120 years of history behind us. Our new state-of-the-art facilities in Solihull, West Midlands are home to a tight-knit, but ever-expanding team that's passionate about delivering exquisite riding experiences to our customers.

Under new ownership and proud to be part of the TVS Motor family, we're entering a new era of global success. And we want you to be a part of it!

At Norton, we value respect, trust, and responsibility. We trust our employees to execute their roles exceptionally and professionally, and we value personal development, teaching, and learning. When you join our team, you'll have the opportunity to grow and learn alongside some of the most talented and dedicated people in the business.

So if you're passionate about motorcycles and looking to join a team that's shaping the future of this legendary brand, we'd love to hear from you!

The Role

The Procurement Lead - NPD will be responsible for leading all procurement activities within new product development (NPD) projects. Acting as the key interface among Procurement, Engineering, and Programme Management, you will ensure that sourcing decisions, supplier engagement, and material availability align with project milestones and cost objectives.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and execute procurement strategies for NPD projects in alignment with overall business and engineering objectives
• Act as the primary procurement contact within NPD project teams, representing purchasing interests and managing escalations as required
• Drive techno-commercial sourcing decisions through the Joint Sourcing Council, ensuring alignment with category strategies and global supplier capabilities
• Ensure all procurement deliverables are aligned with project timelines, including APQP, Stage-Gate processes, and part delivery schedules
• Track, monitor, and report procurement KPIs and project progress to stakeholders
• Confidently present updates to senior management and cross-functional teams
• Participate in design reviews, gate reviews, and technical workshops to influence design-for-cost and manufacturability decisions early in the development process
• Manage procurement budgets for assigned projects, support change management, and drive cost optimisation and value engineering initiatives
  Collaborate with category buyers to negotiate contracts, terms, and conditions for prototype, pre-series, and initial production phases
• Provide accurate cost inputs and Bill of Material (BOM) pricing during early project cost estimation and business case development
• Monitor and control procurement costs to ensure compliance with target cost objectives and profitability targets
• Evaluate new product cost for subsystems using zero-based costing, benchmarking, and comparative quotation analysis
• Build strong working relationships with internal teams and suppliers, ensuring effective communication and issue resolution
• Identify and pre-empt risks and issues within the supply chain, implementing proactive mitigation or escalation measures

Skills & Experience Required

• Proven experience in procurement or supply chain management within an automotive, motorcycle, or advanced manufacturing environment
• Strong understanding of NPD / APQP / Stage-Gate project processes
• Demonstrable experience in cost engineering, supplier negotiation, and sourcing strategy development
• Strong commercial acumen and the ability to make balanced techno-commercial sourcing decisions
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills across all levels of the organisation
• Confident presenter with the ability to clearly articulate complex information to cross-functional and leadership teams
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and ERP systems (e.g., SAP or equivalent)
• Engineering or business-related degree (or equivalent professional experience)
• CIPS qualification or working towards (desirable)

Rewards of working for Norton:

We like to take care of our Nortoneers and we think we offer some pretty decent rewards. Here's what you'll get when you join the team:

💰 Competitive salary package that recognises your skills and experience

🌴A whopping 33 days of holiday (inc. Bank Hols) to relax and recharge

👴 Generous pension scheme that sets you up for the future, with access to personalised advice.

🚑 Private Medical Insurance and a Cash Back Programme to keep you feeling your best

💸 Life insurance (4x salary) because we've got your back no matter what

🍌FREE fruit, got to have your five-a-day!

🩺WeCare Employee Assistance Programme, which includes access to online GP services, dietary advice, mental health support, bereavement counselling, and a fitness programme

🚀 Experience the thrill of an entrepreneurial environment within a larger, well-funded company with ambitious long-term goals.

💡 Elevate your career with our Ideas for Excellence scheme, where every brilliant idea is not just valued, but also rewarded!

🌍 A diverse and international team that brings together different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences.

🎉 Join the fun with our twice-yearly employee events, payday socials, and loads of exciting activities in between!

🚴♂️Want to go green? You can enjoy free electric bicycle hire

🚗 Plus, no need to stress about finding a parking spot - we've got on-site free parking covered and FREE electric charge points.

We know how important it is to take care of our team, and we're committed to continually improving our reward offering in line with the business growth plan.

Join us and see for yourself!

PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT ACCEPT AGENCY APPLICATIONS