Location: Belfast, United Kingdom

Thales people architect solutions that are relied upon to deliver operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defensive systems for land, sea, and air. From early warning, to threat neutralisation, our platforms cover all levels from very short-range systems, to extended protection across the entire battle-space including Airspace Mobility Solutions, Vehicles and Tactical Systems and Missile Defence, Optronics, and Radar.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Lead Procurement Project Manager (Lead PPM)

Belfast Hybrid working

This is a Brand-new Senior Procurement leadership position who is accountable for ensuring the external supply chain delivers for the HIRST bid & project phases.

For critical export programmes in collaboration with UK MOD, Thales delivers Short Range Air Defence (SHORAD) capability and associated support services, to increase interoperability and mutual capability benefits for the end-user.

As part of our Industrial Co-operation strategy, Thales is building a team of industrialisation experts to engage with several local defence industrial bases to provide incrementally phased transfers of capability.

This industrialisation activity will include provision for the identification, qualification and training of local industrial subcontractors, to take on activity throughout our ambitious programmes.

Thales is committed to providing an enduring capability that will support and enhance end-user forces and industry into the future involving the local supplier eco-system.

The Lead PPM will

Coordinate internal relationships, risks, opportunities and manage the procurement cycle from quote, commitment through to completion; providing updates to the Project and Contract teams via regular reporting and lead Executive level management reviews. 

Work with the bid and product development teams to ascertain the work package needs, competitiveness objectives and target costs. You'll develop a supply chain architecture; negotiate with the supply chain, under these mandates, to obtain a complete and competitive supply chain architecture which delivers the full requirement of the bid/product.

Deliver a risk managed set of Terms and Conditions of contract for all elements of the supply chain.

The PPM Lead will be seen as the lead Supply Chain architect for the assigned campaign, bid or project

Although the role maybe assigned to a particular business or location, the job holder may be requested to support the function’s activities in other businesses or locations across the UK.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks:

In the Bid Phase or for New Products

Acquisition Strategy and Plan with the bid/project teamProduce and agree the Purchasing Executive SummaryGenerate/ review RFQs, ensuring bid and program requirements are accurately capturedEnsure that the RFQ and contract packs are complete and agreed with stakeholdersConfirm tailoring and Purchase vet planning.Facilitate both strategic and tactical the Make, Team, Buy process in line with medium term industrial plan for the business lineUndertake commercial and contractual tasks at all times, including engaging with commercial teams to define suitable terms and conditions.Ensure effectiveness by employing suitable reporting, tracking and performance management tools and techniques and represent Procurement at Bid reviews.Record and report Upstream Price Decrease  UPD SavingsCreate and provide accurate Procurement estimates, covering resource labour, material and Total Cost of Ownership to the bid teamRecognise export controls associated with supply chain architecture and program requirements including: ITAR(TAAs(& TCPs)/MLAs) EAR ECCN,UK & foreign Military and Dual-Use Controls

Compliance to Governance Rules

Ensure relevant governance is complied with, including Delegation Of Authority, Acquisition Log process and Purchase Order approvalComply with export control guidelines and policiesAll assigned CAPAs (Corrective Action Preventative Action) and the respective stages for all Internal, External and Supplier Audits will be completed in the prescribed timeframe in the CAPA, to achieve zero overdue date performanceAll assigned QUESTs will be completed in the prescribed timeframe to achieve zero overdue date performance”To drive sustainability in our projects to optimise cost benefits and innovation from within our supply chain, and pro-actively reduce risk and non-compliance to legislation

Right for this role?

SkillsCommercially astute with advanced negotiation skills and experience including differing contracting modelsBroad range of Procurement skills focused on: Needs Analysis, Design to Cost, Make-Team-Buy, Technical Interface Management, Acquisition Strategy definition, International Sourcing, Supplier Management, Risk and Opportunity Management, Subcontract Management.Leadership, presentation and communication skillsExceptional Interpersonal skills to optimise cross-functional & cross-organisational working, engage key stakeholders and to work effectively with suppliers.

Desirable

Team management, leadership and team developmentMajor development/manufacture sub-contract program/project management experienceBroad technical and commercial understanding of the Thales product and associated bought in supplied parts and servicesUpstream purchasing techniques deployment, especially Co-Development, Co-Engineering, Value Engineering, Value Analysis, Functional Analysis, Cost Analysis.Experience:Supply chain architecture development and implementationRelevant experience in mid-to-senior level procurement or commercial rolesSupplier Relationship and Performance Management, negotiation techniques and measurement

Desirable

Experience of procurement tools such as E-ACQ,Proven track record of working cooperatively with Engineering and R&T teamsExperience in using ERP systems including Oracle (B1) and / or SAPExperience of presenting to end customers during bid or project phases

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In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

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