Permanent
Procurement Lead - Engineering
Purchasing/Procurement
Ampthill - Bedfordshire
About the Role
We're looking for a Procurement Lead - Engineering to join our team based from our in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. This role benefits from our 4xFlex working pattern, offering a 4-day working week Monday - Thursday. Monday and Tuesday mandatory onsite with Wednesday and Thursday hybrid working (2 - 4 days onsite depending on business needs)
The Procurement Lead - Engineering role is part of the Lockheed Martin UK Supply Chain Organisation managing the total supply chain for goods and services to meet a variety of programme and business requirements.
The successful candidate will join a renowned international defence company, with a range of technically innovative products and excellent opportunities for career progression, and personal and professional development.
Focussing on managing supplier delivery, it primarily supports the development and production in Armoured Vehicles, Platform Integration, Special Projects and Weapons areas & domains to meet domestic and international programme and business needs. LMUK(Ampthill) has a worldwide supply base although predominantly in the UK, Europe, Middle East and the US.
Success requires experience of working in a functional organisation with a blend of proven skills including relationship building and achievement of deliveries, on time and in full, through the ability to successfully negotiate and manage procurements, ranging from simple to complex subcontracts. This will be coupled with effectively working within a multi-disciplinary product team including Engineering, Operations and Quality.
The role focusses on delivering technical procurement expertise against a variety of programmes across multiple categories of goods and services including simple to complex build to print in commodity areas including PCB's, box-builds, cable harnesses, mechanical, COTs and MOTs.
Responsibilities may extend across the product life cycle and include:
1. Delivering technical and complex procurement activities of a Programme/s including, basis of estimates for new requirements and Change Proposals.
2. Undertaking the procurement processes for technical procurements including issuing RFQ’s, Invitation to Tender, negotiating Terms and Conditions, bid evaluation, and award of contract.
3. Holding a procurement delegation and signing supplier agreements and purchase orders within this limit.
4. Negotiating with suppliers to ensure best value is achieved.
5. Achieving the successful delivery of procurements including the management of schedule, applying extensive supply chain expertise, and demonstrating full knowledge of, and successful interactions with other related disciplines.
6. Developing and maintaining stakeholder relationships with key internal and external business contacts to achieve mutual benefit including representing the organisation/programme as a technical expert.
7. Ensuring procurement activities are compliant with internal/legislative procedures, and that risks are identified and managed.
8. Providing the key interface between internal customers and suppliers to ensure that communication is effectively managed, and issues and risks are fully understood and managed.
9. Supporting internal and external reviews of supplier performance as required.
10. Contributing to the continual improvement of the supply chain processes.
11. Providing technical expertise to Buyers across multiple programmes.
The successful candidate must achieve the appropriate level (SC) of security clearance. More details can be found .
Required skills, qualifications and experience
12. Significant experience in a Senior / Lead Procurement / Buyer role
13. Mechanical (fabrications/machined items) and Electrical (box-build, cables, components) procurement experience.
14. Excellent understanding of procurement best practice.
15. Knowledge of strategic sourcing and advanced procurement techniques/tools.
16. Excellent commercial skills with the ability to analyse and negotiate best-value agreements
17. Excellent communication skills and the ability to effectively manage stakeholders’ expectations at a variety of levels.
18. Data literate with strong analytical skills.
19. Highly motivated, determined, and committed individual with a proven record of achieving cost saving targets/objectives.
20. Individual who thrives on challenges, and has experience working within a fast-paced procurement function or similar environment.
21. Direct experience of the management of tactical and strategic supplier relationships.
22. Understanding of related disciplines/departments within a design and manufacturing environment.
23. Ability to work assignments without significant/appreciable direction, exercising considerable latitude in determining approaches to assignments.
24. Extensive Contract Management experience.
25. Proficient in the use of MS Office applications.
26. Flexibility to travel as required.
Desired Skills
27. Mechanical (fabrications/machined items) and Electrical (box-build, cables, components) buying experience.
28. Supply chain experience in the defence environment.
29. Experience in the various phases of the product lifecycle from proposal capture, programme start-up, development, production, sustainment and end-of-life.
30. Flexibility to work at different levels of sub-contract complexity (off the shelf, build to print, MOTs, and design to specification).
31. Knowledge of SAP ERP system.
32. Bachelors’ degree in a business/scientific/technical discipline.
33. Knowledge/experience of process improvement methodologies.
34. CIPS or working towards CIPS.
Job Reference Number
18531BR
Salary Range
£62,500 - £77,500 + Comprehensive Benefits + Bonus
Employee Type
Full Time
Hours Per Week
37.5
Working Schedule
4xFlex
Country
United Kingdom (UK)
Clearance Required for Role
SC
Graduate, Intern or Apprentice Vacancy?
No
Business Environment
Lockheed Martin (UK) Ampthill is a rapidly changing, dynamic part of the Lockheed Martin Corporation with both domestic and international customers. It consists of business areas focusing on Platform Integration, Ground Based Air Defence, Special Projects and Weapons, which provide a variety of products and services to the Ministry of Defence and other customers. We are looking for talented individuals to join the company, in return we offer an exciting and challenging career path and excellent work/life balance with a 4 day week (Mon-Thurs) and flexible working arrangements.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Lockheed Martin is committed to upholding principles of equal opportunity, fostering a work environment that is aligned with our core values of integrity, respect, and exceptional performance. We recognize the importance of leveraging the unique talents and experiences of all our employees to drive innovation, deliver superior solutions, and maximize value for our customers. Our focus is on identifying the most qualified candidate for each role, regardless of their background. If you are interested in a position, we invite you to share how your skills and perspectives could bolster our team and encourage you to apply, even if you feel your qualifications do not fully meet all the job criteria outlined in our advertisement. Furthermore, Lockheed Martin is dedicated to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive for all individuals. We are prepared to accommodate reasonable adjustments for applicants as needed. If you require assistance or adjustments to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact end ngIf: ame != 'jobtitleInJobDetails' && ame != 'jobdescriptionInJobDetails' -->
Job Expires
08/04/2026
Procurement Lead - Engineering | LM Careers