Head of Procurement

Opportunity We're looking for a commercially driven Head of Procurement to shape the future of our supply chain and lead strategic purchasing across the business. This is a high‑impact role for an experienced procurement leader who can balance long‑term strategy with day‑to‑day delivery, ensuring we partner with the very best suppliers to drive growth, resilience and innovation. You’ll head up our procurement and materials functions, develop best‑in‑class sourcing strategies, and own supplier relationships at senior level — ensuring quality, compliance and continuity of supply for our mission‑critical technology. Who We Are OpenWorks is a rapidly growing business operating globally with a passion for exceptional engineering and building on a legacy of defence innovation in the North East of England. Our products provide ultra‑high performance, real‑time detection, tracking, identification and targeting of dynamic aerial threats. They have been deployed internationally to protect high‑profile military and civilian assets, and contribute towards the defeat of nuisance, misguided and maliciously deployed drones during operations. We are very proud to have supported a wide range of law enforcement and military operators, protecting many of the most high‑profile sites and individuals around the world. The amazing things we do are only possible because of a dedicated and passionate team. Why You’ll Love Working With Us Join a high‑energy, collaborative team where great ideas thrive, challenges are embraced, and people genuinely love what they do. Benefits Competitive remuneration package, salary from £70,000 with performance‑related bonuses and clear progression opportunities. 25 days' holiday + public holidays, with long‑service rewards and the option to buy up to 5 additional days. Free breakfast and freshly cooked lunches every day, courtesy of Chef Mark and his team. Private healthcare through Aviva, keeping you feeling your best. Life assurance for peace of mind. Salary sacrifice schemes – including EV car and Cycle to Work options for easy, sustainable travel. Paid team socials – from quiz nights and football to board games and more; we love to have fun together. Pension plan with employer‑matched contributions to help you plan for the future. A culture that empowers – we enable change, encourage challenge, and celebrate personal growth. What You’ll Be Doing Strategic Leadership Develop and implement a company‑wide procurement strategy aligned with business goals Establish procurement policies and procedures to ensure efficiency and compliance Champion continuous improvement and supplier innovation Supplier Management Lead strategic supplier selection, negotiation and performance management Monitor supplier performance and drive improvements in quality, lead times, and reliability Risk, Quality & Compliance Identify and mitigate operational, commercial and regulatory risks Oversee supplier audits and ensure procurement meets ethical standards Team Leadership Manage and mentor purchasing, materials planning and supplier quality Collaborate cross‑functionally with production, engineering, finance and contracts teams Continuous Improvement & Value Delivery Lead total cost of ownership and lifecycle value initiatives Support lean, digital and procurement process improvement projects What You’ll Bring Proven Experience Strong, progressive procurement or supply chain experience, including leadership Track record in strategic sourcing, supplier development and contract management ERP proficiency with analytical and commercial insight Commercial & Analytical Skills Strong negotiation, communication and problem‑solving skills Ability to translate complex data into actionable decisions Leadership & Collaboration People‑focused, collaborative and able to manage multiple stakeholders Calm under pressure and proactive when facing supply disruptions Qualifications MCIPS Level 6, experience with ISO 9001, supplier audits or lean improvement Industry Experience Experience in a technical sector within Engineering or Manufacturing; Defence sector experience is a plus. Vision Help protect the territory and airspace of NATO countries and their allies. Mission Be a world‑leading provider of autonomous technology for surveillance applications and Defence. Values Be a Good Egg Earn respect, have mutual trust and be honest. Do cool stuff We develop cool tech with an awesome team, and we get stuff done. Be empowered We are autonomous, reliable and take personal responsibility. We are one team Look out for each other and the team. Things go wrong Fail fast, learn and move on. Have fun We’re doing amazing things with passionate people. #J-18808-Ljbffr