Strategic Procurement Manager

GKN Aerospace; Birmingham; On-site; USD 108,000 - 136,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace company in Birmingham is seeking a Strategic Procurement Manager to oversee direct and indirect material strategies, manage supplier relationships, and drive cost reduction initiatives while ensuring compliance with quality standards. Candidates should have over 8 years of strategic procurement experience and demonstrate strong leadership skills in a team environment. Competitive compensation and benefits offered.

Benefits

Collaborative work environment

Professional development opportunities

Competitive salary and benefits package

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in strategic procurement, sourcing, and supplier quality within aerospace and defense industries.
• 3+ years of experience leading teams, with strong coaching and leadership skills.
• US Person per ITAR regulations and able to comply with export compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of Strategic Sourcing Buyers and Supplier Quality Engineers.
• Develop and execute strategic sourcing plans for direct & indirect materials.
• Champion compliance with ITAR regulations, AS9100 standards.

Skills

Strategic procurement

Supplier quality management

Contract negotiation

Team leadership

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field

Tools

ERP systems (SAP, Oracle)

Procurement analytics tools

Job description

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Strategic Procurement Manager, Birmingham

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Client:

GKN Aerospace

Location:

Birmingham, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

834f4f5fb820

Job Views:

6

Posted:

01.08.2025

Expiry Date:

15.09.2025

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Job Description:

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

At GKN Aerospace, we are pioneers in aerospace and defense manufacturing, dedicated to innovation, precision, and excellence. Our cutting-edge technology and commitment to quality have positioned as the worldwide leader in military aircraft canopies and commercial aircraft passenger cabin windows. Join us in shaping the future of aerospace and defense!

Job Summary

Reporting to the Sr. Director of Procurement & Supply Chain, the Manager, Strategic Procurement is responsible for the strategy development and execution of direct material commodity and indirect material category strategies of the Garden Grove supply base. This role will be responsible for contracting with suppliers, developing capacity and rate readiness plans and overseeing supplier quality management.

Job Responsibilities

• Manage a team of Strategic Sourcing Buyers and Supplier Quality Engineers, coaching, mentoring and developing growth potential, managing individual performance
• Set strategic goals for sourcing and supplier quality to optimize cost, reliability, and operational efficiency, coordinating alongside Global Commodity & Category Managers to leverage global spend and contracts for the site.
• Develop and execute strategic sourcing plans for direct & indirect materials, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Ensure supplier contracts are fully compliant to customer flowdowns and to FAR/DFARs regulations
• Develop annual capacity and rate readiness assessments based on business fluctuations.
• Drive cost reduction initiatives while maintaining supplier performance and regulatory compliance.
• Develop and ensure successful execution of annual supplier quality audits for key suppliers based on business needs and risk.
• Develop and implement robust supplier corrective action process and ensure supplier compliance to address non-conformances and enhance quality standards and performance.
• Oversee supplier audits and assessments to ensure compliance with quality, regulatory, and industry standards.
• Implement supplier quality management programs, tracking defect rates, corrective actions, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Champion compliance with ITAR regulations, AS9100 standards, and defense contracting guidelines.

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in strategic procurement, sourcing, and supplier quality within aerospace and defense industries.
• 3+ years of experience leading teams, with strong coaching and leadership skills.
• Expertise in contract negotiation, supplier development, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Experience conducting supplier audits, rate readiness assessments, and performance evaluations.
• Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, etc.) and procurement analytics tools.
• Knowledge of ITAR regulations, AS9100 quality standards, and defense contracting.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills to influence stakeholders and drive results.
• US Person per ITAR regulations and able to comply with export compliance requirements.

Compensation Data

Salary Range: $108,569.00 - $135,711.00

Why Join Us:
• Work with cutting-edge technology and innovative projects.
• Collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Professional development and growth opportunities.
• Be part of a company shaping the future of aerospace and defense.

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.