Project jobs in United States

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Head of Supply Chain

Role Description
Responsible for managing all procurement functions at SSTL to ensure successful project delivery. This includes team development and leadership, establishing processes and policies, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. The role focuses heavily on operational project delivery and involves line managing 3 project (direct) buyers and 2 non-project (indirect) buyers.

Key Tasks

1. Act as the primary contact for all project-related satellite electrical, mechanical, and services procurement.
2. Highlight key procurement issues and actions during monthly project reviews, ensuring facts are gathered, documented, and presented.
3. Measure team performance using KPIs, track, and report key metrics aimed at reducing costs and enhancing effectiveness.
4. Maintain up-to-date workload planning for open projects and bids, based on a standard costing model.
5. Collaborate with the Head of Supply Chain to develop and implement a company-wide purchasing strategy, including supplier selection and evaluation, with stakeholder approval.
6. Lead and develop the procurement team members.
7. Establish strong working relationships with internal stakeholders such as Project Manufacturing Engineers, Project Managers, and Finance teams.
8. Manage procurement governance, ensuring policy compliance and supporting audits, including implementing Airbus’s Internal Controls framework.
9. Challenge and improve existing procurement practices to ensure consistency, economies of scale, and better value for money.
10. Lead tendering processes for large strategic purchases, such as central stock.
11. Build supplier relationship management capabilities within the team and through continuous improvement.
12. Support the deployment of a new ERP system as a procurement subject matter expert.

Person Specification (Essential Requirements)

• Minimum 5 years of line management experience with strong people management skills.
• Ability to interact credibly at all business levels and demonstrate senior-level experience.
• Highly results-oriented, motivated, and capable of delivering under pressure.
• Effective communication, influencing, and persuasion skills.
• Creative thinker with innovative problem-solving abilities.
• Strong understanding of contractual and programmatic risk, with pragmatic mitigation approaches.
• Ability to provide constructive feedback and handle difficult conversations.
• Background in procurement strategy development.
• Ability to influence decision-makers and build informal authority.
• Experience managing budgets and financial forecasting.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and comfortable working under pressure.
• Ability to handle complexity and ambiguity, with a focus on addressing commercial challenges.
• Possession of a professional purchasing qualification (MCIPS) is preferred.
• SC clearance may be required.

Location
The role is based at our Head Office in Guildford.

Benefits
Our benefits include 32 days holiday plus bank holidays, pension scheme with life assurance, private medical and international travel insurance, annual bonus, share incentive plan, enhanced parental leave, high street discounts, and more.