Category Lead

**_ The opportunity:_**

Leonardo is a global leader in defence electronics and delivers mission critical systems for situational awareness, electronic warfare and surveillance across land, sea and air. Leonardo’s Electronics Division is an international leader in the development of innovative sensor products deployed across a wide range of airborne platforms for our Aerospace and Defence customers.

**_ What you’ll do as a Category Lead_**
- Be responsible for developing the strategy for the category (or sub-categories) under your ownership which will have an impact on a number of different sites across the UK
- This may include managing a team of procurement professionals who will support you in delivering the relevant category strategy (or strategies)
- Be accountable for the timely execution of contracts within your category (or sub-categories) across the UK
- This includes all aspects of the sourcing phase including vendor shortlisting, competitive tender management, price and contract negotiations
- Represent your category team across a number of projects to ensure that both production and new product development requirements are satisfied
- Promote a culture of engaging with members of various functions and projects to identifying opportunities
- Be accountable for relationships with strategic suppliers who may serve multiple sites including responsibility for regular business reviews
- Support the UK Category Procurement Manager by defining, evolving and implementing the relevant category strategy within a dynamic team
- Represent Category Management by owning the relationship with specific LoB’s/sectors across the UK
- Work with the procurement capability team to ensure that we have a supply base which can meet the evolving needs of the business
- Identify cost savings opportunities using various methods which you can confidently present to senior business leaders
- Continual evaluation of the category strategy throughout the various product lifecycles, ensuring they are relevant and tangible across the relevant projects
- Oversee complex price analysis by members of the team and benchmarking activities prior to leading negotiations
- Ensure compliance with internal governance and customer flowdown requirements, supporting internal and external audits as required
- Ensure that SAP is aligned to reflect the agreements that your team will implement

**_ What we need from you:_**
- Extensive Procurement experience, preferably including category management
- Demonstrable working knowledge and understanding of Contract Terms & Conditions
- Experience in managing a team of professionals in a corporate environment
- A relevant business/ engineering degree and/or working experience in a similar role
- Significant experience in managing complex tenders
- Experience working in a highly regulated business environment
- Proficient level of MS Office based IT skills
- CIPS qualification preferred
- SAP user experience

**Security Clearance**

**Life at Leonardo**

With a company funded benefits package, a commitment to learning and development, and a flexible approach to working hours focused on the needs of both our employees and customers, a career with Leonardo has never offered as many opportunities or been more accessible to as many people.
- ** Flexible Working**:Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us
- ** Company funded flexible benefits**: Access to private healthcare, dental schemes, Workplace ISA, Go Green Car Scheme, technology and lifestyle options (£500 annual allowance)
- ** Holidays**: 25 days plus bank holidays, option to buy/sell leave and to accrue up to 12 additional flexi leave days per year
- ** Pension**: Award winning pension scheme (up to 10% employer contribution)
- ** Wellbeing**:Employee Assistance Programme with access to free mental health support, financial wellbeing support and network groups to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to diversity & inclusion (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Reservists, Carers)
- ** Lifestyle**:Discounted Gym membership, Cycle to work scheme
- **Training**: Free access to more than 4000 online courses via Coursera
- **Referral Incentive**: You can earn a reward for successfully referring a friend or family member
- **Bonus**:Scheme in place for all employees at management level and below

For a full list of our Company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global high-tech company and one of the key players in Aerospace, Defence and Security. Headquartered in Italy, Leonardo has over 45,000 employees, of which 8,000 are based at 8 sites throughout the UK.

At Leonardo UK, we believe that a diverse and inclusive work environment unlocks our people’s full potential and drives innovation and creativity. We work hard to offer a welcoming, accessible and inclusive place to work for all of our people, creating a culture where everyone can thrive, feel safe and have a sense of belonging and con