Strategic Procurement Leader – Manufacturing

HBHR; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Chemring Countermeasures, a world-leading provider of countermeasure solutions, seeks an experienced Procurement Manager in Salisbury to lead the procurement function and shape supply chain performance. The role partners with Planning, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Finance and Commercial teams to drive value, resilience, and continuous improvement.

The successful candidate will develop sourcing strategies, manage supplier performance, and ensure continuity of supply in a complex

Qualifications

• Strong procurement or supply chain experience within a manufacturing or similarly complex environment.
• Significant experience in procurement, purchasing or supply chain, including leading people and supplier performance.
• Commercial and contractual awareness, with the ability to balance cost, service, quality and risk.
• Experience identifying and mitigating supply chain risk and improving resilience.
• Strong understanding of procurement within a manufacturing environment, including MRP, production requirements, inventory and material planning interfaces.
• Experience of change and continuous improvement, with the ability to move a team from reactive expediting towards controlled, proactive procurement.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the Procurement team, creating a high-performing culture with clear objectives, accountability, and continuous development.
• Develop and implement procurement and category strategies aligned with business objectives, customer demand, product lifecycle requirements, and supply chain resilience.
• Ensure material and supplier plans support production requirements and customer delivery commitments.
• Own supplier performance management, driving improvements in quality, delivery, responsiveness, cost, and overall supplier effectiveness.
• Establish strong supplier relationships and lead regular supplier reviews, ensuring performance issues are addressed through robust recovery and improvement plans.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate supply chain risks, including supplier capacity constraints, obsolescence, financial stability, and single-source dependencies.
• Lead sourcing, tendering, supplier selection, and commercial negotiations to achieve best value while managing risk.
• Negotiate and manage supplier agreements and contracts to ensure commercial competitiveness and compliance with business requirements.
• Drive cost reduction and value improvement initiatives through strategic sourcing, supplier development, market analysis, and commercial challenge.
• Partner with Planning and Operations teams to optimise inventory, lead times, material availability, and working capital.
• Support engineering changes, new product introduction, configuration management, and product lifecycle activities.
• Monitor supply market trends, supplier developments, technology advances, and commodity movements to inform procurement strategy.
• Ensure procurement data, supplier records, lead times, pricing, and purchasing information are accurately maintained within Business Central and associated systems.
• Maintain effective procurement processes, governance, and controls that support compliance, auditability, and sound decision-making.
• Represent Procurement within cross-functional projects, business reviews, change programmes, and strategic supplier engagements.
• Support bids, proposals, and business development activities through the provision of sourcing, cost, lead-time, and risk assessments.
• Champion continuous improvement across Procurement and the wider supply chain, driving smarter and more efficient ways of working.
• Promote and support a safe working environment through compliance with all Health, Safety, and Environmental requirements.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Supply chain management

Strategic sourcing

Stakeholder management

Contract negotiation

Risk management

Education

Degree in Business/Engineering/Supply Chain

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Job description

Chemring Countermeasures, a world-leading provider of countermeasure solutions, seeks an experienced Procurement Manager in Salisbury to lead the procurement function and shape supply chain performance. The role partners with Planning, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Finance and Commercial teams to drive value, resilience, and continuous improvement.

The successful candidate will develop sourcing strategies, manage supplier performance, and ensure continuity of supply in a complex