Procurement Programme Manager

GKN Aerospace; East Cowes; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

GKN Aerospace is seeking a senior Procurement Programme Lead based at our Cowes site. You will lead a team of project managers, buyers and senior buyers to plan and execute procurement transfers and new programme introductions in line with cost, delivery and quality targets.

You will travel to other company sites as required, ensuring adherence to the transfer of work gate process and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers and internal customers.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent in business administration or related field, or significant procurement experience.
• Possession or pursuit of MCIPS certification.
• Pursuing or holding a Project Management qualification (APM/PMI/MBA).
• Experience leading procurement projects in aerospace manufacturing.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor a high-performing team.
• Strong commercial sense and negotiation skills.
• Excellent relationship management with customers and suppliers.
• Ability to manage change and assess risk effectively.
• Willingness to travel, possibly internationally.
• Solid understanding of procurement and supply chain processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high performing procurement team.
• Own procurement transfer of work projects (minor and major).
• Interface procurement with site programmes and customers.
• Manage supplier RFQ processes using e-sourcing tools.
• Monitor transfer project performance and report progress.
• Own change control for programmes/projects.
• Actively manage risk, issues, and opportunities on transfers.
• Build strong supplier relationships to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Serve as escalation point for active projects.
• Maintain the Project Register and align with BMS standards.
• Adhere to procurement standards and contribute to process improvements.
• Sign off on ToW gate 0, 1 & 2 as required.
• Identify and pursue cost-reduction opportunities linked to site targets.
• Define supplier sourcing and development strategy aligned with group aims.

Education

Degree in Business Administration or related

MCIPS

PM Qualification (APM/PMI/MBA)

Aerospace project management experience

Leadership of high-performing teams

Commercial acumen and negotiation

Relationship management with customers and suppliers

Change and risk management

Travel willingness (international)

Supply Chain/Procurement process knowledge

Job description

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Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

Based in our thriving manufacturing centre of excellence, and reporting into the Site Procurement Director, the post holder will be responsible for effectively leading, developing, and coordinating a team of Procurement Project Managers, Buyers and Senior Buyers who in turn are responsible for the successful planning and execution of Procurement related Transfers, Projects and New Programme Introduction (NPI) within the Cowes site. To ensure that all aspects of project deliverables are achieved in accordance with agreed delivery, cost (RC & NRC) & quality requirements and in-line with the approved transfer of work gate process.

Due to the nature of our business, and the fact that this is a fairly small, niche team, there will be a strong expectation that the post holder will be required to "muck in" as and when required, to ensure that all aspects of project deliverables are achieved in accordance with their agreed delivery, cost (RC & NRC) & quality requirements through the approved transfer of work gate process.

As part of the role, and when the job dictates, be required to travel to, and work at, other company premises and supplier sites on the UK mainland and abroad.

Job Responsibilities

• Leading and developing a high performing team;
• Accountable for all Procurement transfer of work projects (Minor & Major transfers).
• Accountable for the Procurement Projects interface into Site Programmes (Business Lines). Managing both internal and external customers.
• Responsible for the Programme Supplier Selection RFQ’s with the use of e-sourcing tools.
• Responsible for continuously monitoring the performance of Transfer Projects, managing off-track items and reporting progress through the BR4 Process.
• Accountable for Programme/Project Change Control.
• Actively executes Risk, Issue and Opportunity Management to control and mitigate the risk exposure and take advantage of opportunities on all transfer of work projects.
• To build positive and mutually beneficial relationships with suppliers to ensure overall customer satisfaction is achieved.
• Act as primary point of escalation for any active project.
• Responsible for the maintenance of the Project Register (in conjunction to SAVE).
• Adheres to all Procurement standards and policies in accordance with the GKN Business Management System (BMS) and contributes to process development.
• Responsible for all ToW Gate 0, 1 & 2 sign-off approval.
• Accountable for devising / investigating Procurement Project Cost Reduction opportunities / activities linked to site cost reduction targets.
• Accountable for the Procurement Projects Supplier Sourcing & Development Strategy, in line with the group commodity strategy.

Job Qualifications

Suitable candidates will be able to demonstrate:

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent) in Business Administration or other relevant discipline, OR significant procurement or supply chain experience
• Have gained, or is working towards, MCIPS
• Have gained, or is working towards, Project Management Qualification (APM, PMI, MBA etc.)
• Previous experience in Project Management within an Aerospace manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated experience of leading and mentoring a high performing team
• Strong commercial acumen, with demonstrable negotiation skills
• Relationship management skills, with the capability of interfacing professionally with customers and suppliers
• Ability to effectively manage change and risk
• Good written, verbal and presentation skills
• Willingness and ability to travel (potentially internationally) as and when required
• Strong understanding of the Supply Chain/Procurement process would be advantageous

We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We arethe place where human dreams, plus humanendeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.