We have a fantastic opportunity for a Procurement Category Manager to join our Thales UK Procurement function. In this role, you will focus on managing our optronics suppliers.,

Accountability for ensuring the most up-to-date knowledge of the supplier market, including new innovations and key emerging technologies relevant to the category.
Leading major / business critical supplier selection exercises to support business needs, as well as the deployment, implementation and monitoring of category strategies.
End to end performance responsibility for the acquisition process via the management of RFIs and/or RFPs.
Supplier relationship management and continuous improvement of suppliers within the category and the management of strategic supplier performance including, but not limited to, quality, cost, delivery, contractual performance and innovation.
Ensure the suppliers provide the competitiveness required to support the business and to introduce optimal supply base changes to support business-winning capability.
Responsibility for mastering economic models for the category so that increased value can be added to Thales and the supply base.

Are you an experienced procurement professional who is passionate about category management and can deliver the transformation that Thales is implementing?, Worked in direct procurement categories (ideally from working within a technical/engineering environment).
Experience in developing, supporting and implementing category strategy initiatives.
Experience performance managing suppliers to above target performance and have a working knowledge of supplier development techniques.
Strong contractual knowledge especially of framework agreements and key clauses.
The ability to lead complex negotiations including import/export considerations.
A good understanding of the market for the category as well as an understanding of customer drivers, needs and programme issues.
Experience implementing procurement strategy from an operational perspective.
Proven ability challenging and developing innovative supply chain/procurement analysis that adds value to the business and end customers.
Strong stakeholder engagement skills.

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.