Senior Sub-Contract Buyer

Leonardo; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Time off up to 12 flexi-days

Pension scheme with up to 15% employer

Mental health support

Company bonus scheme

Free access to 4,000+ online courses

Referral programme

Flexible benefits up to £500 annually

Hybrid working

Job summary

Leonardo UK is seeking a Senior Sub-Contract Buyer in Luton to lead complex sub-contract activities for Defence/Aerospace projects. The role focuses on translating customer requirements into robust contracts, managing supplier relationships, and driving risk-aware procurement strategies.

You will work within a matrix organisation supporting Production and Development IPTs, negotiating terms, and ensuring alignment with corporate governance while delivering value and back-to-back campaigns.

Qualifications

• Requires technical training to degree standard, professional qualification and/or significant domain experience (studying towards or achievement of MCIPS is preferred)
• Demonstrated collaboration, communication, planning, problem solving, influencing, decision making and continuous improvement skills
• A good working knowledge and understanding of Procurement within the Defence/Aerospace industry (or a similar sector) and ability to apply them with minimal supervision and direction

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of sub-contract activities and other procurement related services which may be required by the business
• Lead relationships with Leonardo suppliers, holding reviews, ensuring performance management, risks and impacts.
• Negotiate complex agreements and risk/reward mechanisms for business case models
• Translate customer / project requirements into commercial documents, particularly pertaining to the design, development and production of bespoke complex electronic systems and sub-systems
• Understand mechanisms of mitigating risk associated with entering into commercial agreements
• Develop and negotiate robust contracts for services, intangible and tangible deliverables
• Working in collaboration with cross functional stakeholders to ensure the flowdown of appropriate terms and conditions from customer contracts to enable compliance with contractual obligations and mitigate commercial / contractual risks
• Promotes customer intimacy in both internal and external relationships
• Focal point for project and suppliers regarding contract and supply base matters
• Drives and leads strategies to influence business decisions throughout the project life cycle
• Identify solutions for complex areas of potential risk /opportunity e.g. sub-contract risk, IPR, liability and exchange rate exposure etc. and deliver solutions/mitigations

Skills

Collaboration

Communication

Planning

Problem solving

Influencing

Decision making

Continuous improvement

Education

Degree or professional qualification

MCIPS preferred

Job description

Job Description

Salary: £43,000 - £48,000

Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.

Your impact

The role of a Senior Sub-Contract Buyer at Leonardo offers a wide variety of experiences and is both exciting and challenging in its nature. This role in particular represents a unique opportunity for a high calibre candidate to thrive and grow within the Combat Air sector.

This role will involve actively working in a matrix organisation structure supporting a variety of complex assignments for both Production and Development Integrated Project Teams (IPTs) in the Combat Air sector. The focus for this role will be the management of complex sub-contract commitments for requirements that require both tactical and strategic thinking, supply will be both tangible and intangible in their nature.

The IPTs demand associated with Production & Development continues to grow within the Combat Air Sector and requires any individual successfully appointed able to translate complex, early concept customer requirements and ensure that these are carefully flowed down to subcontractors ensuring back-to-back campaigns and project execution. The ability to build, foster and create value with strategic partners and suppliers is essential.

What You’ll Bring

• Lead the delivery of sub-contract activities and other procurement related services which may be required by the business
• Lead relationships with Leonardo suppliers, holding reviews, ensuring performance management, risks and impacts.
• Negotiate complex agreements and risk/reward mechanisms for business case models
• Translate customer / project requirements into commercial documents, particularly pertaining to the design, development and production of bespoke complex electronic systems and sub-systems
• Understand mechanisms of mitigating risk associated with entering into commercial agreements
• Develop and negotiate robust contracts for services, intangible and tangible deliverables
• Working in collaboration with cross functional stakeholders to ensure the flowdown of appropriate terms and conditions from customer contracts to enable compliance with contractual obligations and mitigate commercial / contractual risks
• Promotes customer intimacy in both internal and external relationships
• Focal point for project and suppliers regarding contract and supply base matters
• Drives and leads strategies to influence business decisions throughout the project life cycle
• Identify solutions for complex areas of potential risk /opportunity e.g. sub-contract risk, IPR, liability and exchange rate exposure etc. and deliver solutions/mitigations

You Really Must Have

• Requires technical training to degree standard, professional qualification and/or significant domain experience (studying towards or achievement of MCIPS is preferred)
• Demonstrated collaboration, communication, planning, problem solving, influencing, decision making and continuous improvement skills
• A good working knowledge and understanding of Procurement within the Defence/Aerospace industry (or a similar sector) and ability to apply them with minimal supervision and direction

This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.

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: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• 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.

Primary Location

GB - Luton - Cap. Green 300

Contract Type

Permanent

Hybrid Working

Hybrid