Lead critical supplier subcontracts as a Procurement Manager at MBDA, a leading defence organisation. This full-time role offers a salary of circa £50,000, a hybrid working arrangement with 2-3 days per week on-site in Bristol, Stevenage, or Bolton, and excellent benefits including flexi leave and a company bonus.
Requirements
Experience in procurement subcontract management, negotiation, and contract terms and conditions preferred, or a strong willingness to learn.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to find tangible solutions.
Ability to travel to suppliers in the UK, Europe, and internationally.
Must be a British Citizen or a Dual UK national with British citizenship to obtain required security clearance (BPSS).
No specific degree or minimum years of experience strictly mandated.
Skills & Responsibilities
Subcontract Management: Oversee the preparation, negotiation, implementation, and lifecycle performance of complex supplier subcontracts.
Risk Management: Identify, analyze, and mitigate commercial and business risks while safeguarding the company's interests.
Supplier Relations: Develop and nurture strong collaborative relationships with UK, European, and international suppliers.
Commercial Guidance: Provide ongoing support, quotations, and intelligence to internal customers to support new business bids.
Potential transition routes: People from commercial management, supply chain, or project management roles may bring transferable contract negotiation and stakeholder management skills, alongside meeting security clearance and procurement requirements.
Job description
Are you passionate about executing and managing critical and complex supplier subcontracts? Do you have experience of providing work collaboratively with UK and/or international suppliers whilst protecting the commercial position?
Salary: Circa £50,000 depending on experience
Dynamic (hybrid) working: 2-3 days per week on-site due to workload classification
Security Clearance: British Citizen or a Dual UK national with British citizenship
Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), which are managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.
What we can offer you:
Company bonus: Up to £2,500 (based on company performance and will vary year to year)
Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%
Overtime: opportunity for paid overtime
Flexi Leave: Up to 15 additional days
Flexible working: We welcome applicants who are looking for flexible working arrangements
Enhanced parental leave: offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave -enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments
Facilities: Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more…
The opportunity:
Working within Procurement, you will partner with our suppliers around the world and enable MBDA to provide world-leading defence capabilities for our Home Nations and their Allies.
You will lead the preparation, negotiation, implementation and performance of subcontracts across the entire life cycle of missiles and missile systems. You will ensure that contracts are effectively managed to time, cost, and quality resulting in the delivery of high value and sophisticated sub-systems. You will need to provide commercial guidance to internal customers and manage risk and opportunity to safeguard the interests of MBDA.
Key activities on a day-to-day basis can vary between individual roles, but expected activities you are likely to complete:
Preparation and execution of subcontracts, either with existing partners or as a result of running tendering activities
Oversee subcontract amendments to ensure they remain topical and in compliance with latest contracting standards and legislation
Undertaking performance management activities to ensure that suppliers deliver in line with subcontract obligations
Develop and nurture strong supplier relationships with suppliers within the UK, Europe and the rest of the world
Identify and mitigate commercial and business risks relating to the suppliers which you are responsible for
Obtain quotations and other critical intelligence from suppliers which enable MBDA to bid for new business
What we're looking for from you:
Procurement provides a collaborative, team-focused environment where multitasking is a key skill. This is a really key role, and we need people who can help us be successful by taking requirements and problem solving with tangible solutions. There will be ample opportunities for you to develop within the MEP team and across the wider procurement business. You will be required to travel to our suppliers in the UK, Europe and potentially internationally.
You’ll be keen to learn or bring experience in procurement subcontract management, e.g. negotiation, contract and terms and conditions
Be able to problem solve daily and skilled at finding a resolution
Keen to provide continuous support and co-operation to senior internal and external customers
Our company: Peace is not a given, Freedom is not a given, Sovereignty is not a given
MBDA is a leading defence organisation. We are proud of the role we play in supporting the Armed Forces who protect our nations. We partner with governments to work together towards a common goal, defending our freedom.
We are proud of our employee-led networks, examples include: Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, Neurodiversity, Disability and more…
We recognise that everyone is unique, and we encourage you to speak to us should you require any advice, support or adjustments throughout our recruitment process.
Follow us on LinkedIn (MBDA), X (@MBDA_UK), Instagram (MBDA_UK) and Glassdoor or visit our MBDA Careers website for more information.
