Sector Category Lead - Aerospace & Threat Representation

As part of the Australia Sector Commercial & Supply Chain Function, the Sector Category Lead is responsible for ensuring best in class directs category management, along with supply chain advisory and support services to the Threat Representation Business Unit (BU). This role supports the BU in both their growth opportunities and contract delivery programs across the region. The Threat Representation BU consists of QinetiQ businesses located in Australia, Germany, Canada and the UK, however the role must have flexibility to support other BUs and strategic captures within the Australia Sector as required by the sector category management strategy.

Reporting to the Supply Chain Director, Australia Sector, this senior position will manage Direct Materials spend across the Sector, and also help drive, develop and execute key programs related to this strategically important and growing business. The Sector Category Lead will be responsible for all aspects of category management for these strategic and complex purchases. The category includes several sub-categories with diverse specifications across multiple business units and represents a significant opportunity for cost reductions, strategy development, and process improvements under a centrally managed program.

In addition to the category management responsibilities, this role will have an integral responsibility to be a supply chain and procurement partner to the Threat Representation business, as both a strategic supply chain advisor and expert in supply side strategy fulfilment. The Sector Category Lead role will work collaboratively with the Sector leadership and other QinetiQ functional team members to deliver high quality, innovative and intelligence led supply chain activity for the business across the region.

This role allows for adaptive working where your home site could be our Farnborough office, but it will require regular travel to Ashford, Kent. 

Key Accountabilities: 

• Take ownership and development of Category Management Strategies spanning threat-representative capabilities, which encompass target systems, towed target services and airborne special mission operations and training.
• Provide advice and execution to Threat Representation stakeholders on Supply Chain, Procurement and Category strategies, including Make vs. Buy, cost optimisation, supply chain resilience, Material Lead Time optimisation and risks.
• Provide expertise in the supplier market across categories under management with the aim of improving competitive advantage and product/service offering.
• Provide input into product development lifecycle, inventory management strategies, business winning strategies, and forecast and demand planning.
• Work closely with other Supply Chain functions, including Inventory and Logistics, New Business Supply Chain, and other Category Managers.
• Deliver the Australia Sector supply chain roadmap to ensure the alignment of Threat Representation Supply Chain to the wider QinetiQ Group Supply Chain processes, tools, systems and policy (including Governance, risk management, group requirements, performance reporting etc.); thereby ensuring that the Threat Representation business is capable of enacting best practice sourcing processes, decision-making, contract drafting and supplier management.
• In collaboration with other departments (such as business development, program management, engineering, quality assurance and Group Supply Chain), identify and qualify new suppliers and manage activities related to strategic or tactical purchasing, material requirements planning, inventory control, warehousing, and logistics.
• Lead and deliver procurement activities, which secure the goods, works and services that most appropriately identify addressed needs of our customers and users whilst ensuring value for money, compliance with relevant policy and procurement regulations and generating cashable and non-cashable efficiencies throughout the life of the contracts.
• Provide commercial and market intelligence to internal key stakeholders to support strategic planning and project delivery.
• Provide leadership and execution of Supplier Relationship Management activities across the business, monitor supplier performance to assess continued ability to meet quality and delivery requirements.
• Work closely with the Australia Sector Trade Compliance team on Export /Import shipments prior to shipping or receiving product, software, services and/or technical data.
• Maintain awareness of the restrictions, controls and accreditations that are placed upon suppliers working in a Defence and national security environment, ensuring at all times that both sourcing strategies and the incumbent supplier base do not jeopardise or threaten internal compliance.
• Build strong working relationships with key stakeholders across the Threat Representation BU, Australia Sector, QinetiQ Group Supply Chain & Procurement teams, suppliers and external partners and share best practice to help QinetiQ achieve best in class performance, and bring consistency to sourcing activities.

Support the Supply Chain Director – Australia in:

• Implementing a global supply chain that supports business strategies adapted to changing market conditions, new business opportunities, or cost optimisation strategies.
• Developing new supplier and business relationships in order to meet QinetiQ's future growth and sustainability aspirations ensuring that efficiencies are maximised and key risks are mitigated.
• Delivering against action plans and reporting to achieve QinetiQ's sustainability objectives, customer social value objectives and legal compliance requirements.
• Developing and implementing standardised Supply Chain & Procurement procedures across the Australia Sector.

Key capabilities / knowledge: 

• Understanding of Category Management principles and deep knowledge of procurement models as it relates to multi-country and diverse business offerings.
• Ability to lead integration and transformation of processes, systems and culture across the Threat Representation BU and its supply chain.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of end to end supply chain management including MRP, DRP, ERP, forecasting, inventory management.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to influence key stakeholders to improve solution design or commercial offering in order to deliver optimum results.
• Ability to foresee and solve challenges that may have a broad impact on the wider business strategy or outcomes.
• Adaptive and change focused; able to adapt pace of delivery to meet business requirements.
• Ability to work independently, efficiently and effectively under extreme time constraints and deliver results by critical deadlines
• Strong communications skills (written and verbal); able to focus and communicate on issues critical to the business and provide mentoring to others.
  Highly results oriented; keeps the organization on track and delivery oriented.

Experience and qualifications: 

• 5-10+ years relevant experience in senior Procurement, Category management, Supply Chain roles, ideally playing a critical role in supply chain transformations.
  A Degree in Engineering or Business discipline, or equivalent experience
• Experience in implementing Category Management frameworks and transformation programs is highly desirable
• Demonstrated ability to engage and influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience in working in fast-paced ISO, manufacturing or engineering environments
• Experience in the Import / Export of regulated products
• Military or related industry experience preferred but not necessary
• Experience in working with and implementing procurement and supply chain model in ERP systems is advantageous
• Willingness to travel

Please note that all applicants must be eligible for SC clearance:  UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Why Join QinetiQ?
As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there’s never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation, courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges. You’ll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experience enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you’ll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in an diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential.

Joining QinetiQ offers you an opportunity to work on a broad range of interesting defence-based projects with vast career progression across a global organisation in addition to competitive personal and professional benefits.  You’ll receive highly competitive salary and benefits package: our basic salaries are very attractive as we constantly review what’s happening in the market. The range of benefits that we offer include, flexible working, generous holiday entitlements, Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance and much more.

About QinetiQ
As a company of over 8,500 dedicated professionals in more than 50 locations around the world. We are a world-centre of excellence in research and development and act as a catalyst for fast-track innovation, offering outstanding experimentation facilities, and technical, engineering and scientific expertise. QinetiQ is made up of dedicated experts in defence, aerospace, security and related markets, all working together to explore new ways of protecting what matters most. Being part of QinetiQ means being central to the safety and security of the world around us. Partnering with our customers, we help to save lives; reduce risks to society; and maintain the global infrastructure on which we all depend. Come and find out how you can play a role.