Sourcing Lead

World Class Defence Organisation is currently looking to recruit a Sourcing Lead subcontractor on an initial 6 month contract.

This role could be suitable for a candidate from a Category Manager, Procurement Manager or Lead Buyer background.

Rate: £62.00 per hour
Location: Stevenage
Hybrid / Remote working: 2-3 days per week working from home
Contract: 37 Hours per week
Overtime: Hours worked over 37 hours per week will be calculated at ‘time and a quarter’
Duration: 6 Months (initially and then ongoing and long-term thereafter)
IR35 status: Inside IR35 (Umbrella)

Sourcing Lead Job Description:
The Procurement Directorate within this company is a newly formed directorate as of 2026. They have the exciting challenge of meeting the demands of their customers and building a robust UK Supply Chain.

Responsibilities:

Role purpose: To lead and support the procurement and sourcing activities of the Mechanical Structures domain, to be the lead and focal point for a number of RFx events. Working with the Category Manager, Supply Chain Manager and the key stakeholders to drive procurement excellence, implementing new suppliers to future proof the supply chain and to secure the ramp up today

Key responsibilities:

• Sourcing:
  • Produce and lead sourcing activities in line with category and domain strategy, ensuring procurement best practice is followed, in line with policy.
  • Lead and support activities to increase the supply chain
  • Be able to undertake the prerequisite research, i.e. spend analysis, segmentation, future analysis, market analysis
  • Be proficient in utilising procurement tools (Kraljic, Porters, etc.)
  • Be able to present the sourcing outcome to senior stakeholders and justify decisions/outcome of sourcing activities, demonstrating how risks have been mitigated
  • Jointly lead supplier development activities with Supply Chain Managers, complimenting their technical excellence as a commercial lead

• Contract Development & Negotiations:
  • Have an understanding of English contract Law
  • Be able to interpret commercial discussions from a supplier to ensure the best commercial position is implemented.
  • Draft and implement the relevant commercial agreement for the situation
  • Lead in defining negotiation strategies
  • Identify and implement specific planned saving initiatives

• Risk Management
  • Identify supplier risks
  • Manage in line with company processes and procedures
  • Present risks mitigation plans to obtain sponsorship from across the business.
• Change Management

• Ensure onboarding of suppliers is undertaken with the handover period from existing suppliers to new is managed alongside the Multi-Functional Team
• Support Procurement Transversal improvement initiatives

• Able to work in a team and lead complex procurement discussions
• CIPS qualified or equivalent experience
• Experience in running complex RFx

• Product Lifecycle Awareness: Solid understanding of how sourcing strategies shift across the product lifecycle (NPI, Low-Rate Initial Production, Full-Rate Ramp Up, and Legacy/Sustainment).
• Data & Cost Architecture: Ability to analyse open-book cost models, machine/load-centre rates, and buy-to-fly ratios to drive Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) reductions.