Senior Category Manager

Blackshark; West of England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days holiday

Bank holidays included

Bonus scheme

Company pension

Global exposure

Job summary

Vertical Aerospace is seeking a Category Manager to join the Aircraft Procurement team and shape the supply chain behind the Valo programme. You’ll identify strategic suppliers, negotiate long-term agreements and build strong partnerships to meet quality, cost and delivery goals.

You’ll lead end-to-end procurement strategies for airframe, propulsion, powertrain, and mechanical systems, work with internal stakeholders, assess market options, and mitigate risks while supporting rapid, global

Qualifications

• Proven procurement experience within aerospace.
• Degree in business or related field, or a relevant CIPS qualification.
• Experience negotiating complex, high-value contracts.
• Strong understanding of aerospace supply chains.

Responsibilities

• Develop end-to-end procurement strategies for the Valo programme.
• Lead supplier market research and partner selection.
• Negotiate long-term, high-value commercial agreements.
• Manage RFIs/RFPs and contract terms through closure.
• Monitor supplier performance and drive on-time delivery.
• Identify commercial and supply-chain risks and mitigate them.

Skills

Procurement experience

Commercial management

Global mindset

Project management

Analytical ability

Education

Business degree or CIPS

Job description

Our Mission

At Vertical Aerospace, we are pioneering the way for electric aviation. The Valo, our eVTOL (electric, vertical, take-off and landing), 'zero emissions' aircraft will set a new safety standard for how we will navigate the sky.

We won't realise our mission following the same legacy processes and traditions our predecessors followed, instead, we want to 'redefine' aerospace best practices. We are growing quickly from a prototype business to a scaling SME, and the next few years will be critical to our success and delivering on our ambitious goals. Valo is targeting airliner-level safety certification in 2029 ahead of entering service with our airline and operator customers.

What to Expect

As a Category Manager, you’ll join our Aircraft Procurement team and play an important role in building the supply chain behind Valo.

You’ll help identify and select strategic supply chain partners who share our ambitions, negotiate complex commercial agreements and build strong, long-term supplier relationships that deliver against our requirements for quality, cost and performance.

We’re recruiting Category Managers across four key areas:

• Airframe

• Propellers

• Powertrain & Energy Storage

• Mechanical Systems

This is an opportunity to help shape the procurement strategy for a new aircraft programme and work at the intersection of engineering, commercial strategy and an evolving global supply chain.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and execute end-to-end procurement strategies for the Valo programme, helping build our in-house procurement expertise, specialist knowledge and capabilities.

• Research the market and lead sourcing and supplier-selection activities, assessing potential partners against criteria including cost, quality, capability and reliability.

• Lead the negotiation of complex, long-term and high-value commercial agreements.

• Manage the contracting process from initial Requests for Information (RFIs) and Requests for Proposal (RFPs), through evaluation, negotiation and agreement of contractual terms.

• Build strong partnerships with key suppliers and actively manage their performance to support on-time, cost-efficient and high-quality delivery.

• Identify and mitigate commercial and supply-chain risks.

• Use market intelligence and commercial insight to understand both Vertical’s priorities and those of our suppliers, turning that understanding into effective procurement strategies.

• Work closely with internal stakeholders across the Valo programme to ensure procurement decisions support our wider programme objectives.

What You’ll Bring

• Proven procurement experience within the aerospace industry.

• A degree or equivalent qualification in a business‑related field, or a relevant CIPS qualification.

• Experience working closely with suppliers or customers within a complex, global aerospace environment.

• Strong commercial management capability, with demonstrable experience negotiating complex, high‑value contracts.

• A strong understanding of aerospace supply chains and the commercial and operational challenges associated with delivering complex aircraft programmes.

• A global outlook and experience working across different cultures, challenges and ways of working.

• Strong project management skills, supported by analytical ability, technical understanding and an operational mindset.

• The ability to build trusted, lasting relationships with both internal stakeholders and external suppliers.

• A collaborative approach and willingness to learn as part of a fast‑paced, diverse team.

• The ability to think strategically while remaining focused on successful delivery.

What can you expect from us?

We're on a mission. Where others see limits, we see opportunity, and we work at pace. Working at Vertical isn't your average role but for those seeking a challenge, a flexible, supportive organisation and an incredible team; working here is an opportunity to do the best work of your career.

Our approach promotes ingenuity and courage, while our environment builds success through diligence in safety and being open in the way we work. The only way we're going to assure the next chapter of aviation history is by working as a team, relentlessly, towards our goal.

Our benefits

Our people matter - we're not going anywhere without them. Which is why our company benefits go beyond the essentials.

• 26 days holiday, plus bank holiday

• 5 extra days per year to buy (or sell)

• 5 extra days holiday when you get married or enter a civil partnership

• Additional 4% of your salary to spend on extra benefits

• Award-winning digital health and wellbeing service (Help@Hand)

• Company performance based bonus - rewarding company and individual performance

• Company Share Scheme - open to every Vertical employee

• Company Pension Scheme - 5% and we match it

• Breakfast on us, every day

We may just be the hardest job you've ever had, but we're confident it will be the most rewarding.

Disclaimer Statement

We encourage you to apply even if you may not have all the experience listed in the advert. We recognise that talent comes in various forms and we are committed to providing opportunities that create an environment of growth, diversity, and inclusion for everyone. As part of our desire to review and make our processes fair, we may ask you questions related to these aspects during the application process. For more information on how we will use your data, see our Legal section.