Ultra Electronics Group
NPI & Bid Manager
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Ultra Precision Control Systems
Ultra Precision Control Systems (Ultra PCS) is a leading developer of mission and safety critical equipment in the defence and aerospace industry. Our team of experts drives our success, which is why we foster a safe, inclusive environment where every staff member feels valued and respected.
We solve mission and safety critical challenges through innovative engineering solutions, ensuring our customers achieve their objectives safely in military and civil aircraft, vehicles, and unmanned systems.
We support flexible working wherever possible, including hybrid home/office arrangements and part/full-time roles, aligned with our innovative and empowering values.
Position: NPI & Bid Manager
Ultra Precision Control Systems is seeking an NPI & Bid Manager to lead and develop the Projects & Bid category within our Supply Chain Function.
About the Role
In this role, you will lead a high-performance procurement team, partnering internally to deliver exceptional value while ensuring compliance with our intellectual property and privacy standards. Key responsibilities include developing strategic sourcing plans, managing long-term supplier partnerships, optimising product lifecycle decisions (from New Product Introduction (NPI) to production), and enhancing manufacturability (DFM) and testability (DFT). You will drive efficiency, cost-reduction initiatives, and supplier performance alignment while collaborating cross-functionally with Engineering, Procurement, Operations, Quality, and Programme Management to meet business objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Bid Management
- Lead and develop the NPI & Bid project team to achieve world-class procurement capabilities.
- Align strategy with internal stakeholders to maximise value from supplier engagements.
- Develop and execute supplier-engaged Design for Manufacture (DFM) and sourcing strategies that ensure total cost optimisation.
- Manage intellectual property and privacy compliance across all agreements.
- Establish long-term supplier partnerships focusing on "total cost of supply".
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Project & Supply Chain Execution
- Provide regular status updates on projects and ensure business priorities are maintained.
- Ensure proper parameters and agreements are in place for new products transitioning to production.
- Reduce supplier base and enforce fit-for-purpose supplier selection, balancing behaviours, output quality, and on-time delivery.
- Lead production readiness reviews and capacity planning to validate supplier capacity and production volume commitments.
- Implement make/buy strategies to create "turnkey supplier solutions" that reduce lead times and internal processing costs.
Cost & Efficiency Innovation
- Continuously identify and deliver operational efficiencies and cost savings.
- Influence future NPI designs through cross-functional collaboration (e.g., with Engineering and Supply Chain teams).
- Optimise DFM/DFT to reduce design cycles and lower costs.
- Leverage technology, digital tools, and data to enhance decision-making.
Collaboration & Reporting
- Collaborate with equivalent leads in Operations, Quality, Engineering, PM to achieve business goals.
- Present and implement Technology Enablement solutions for improved efficiency.
- Report monthly to Head of Sourcing & Resilience on initiatives, risks, objectives, and opportunities.
Required Skills & Experience
Leadership & Management
- Proven experience in leading and developing multi-disciplinary teams in engineering, manufacturing, or high-tech procurement environments.
- Track record of driving high-performance teams, talent development, and alignment with business strategy.
- Ability to influence decisively across Engineering, Quality, Operations, and Programme Management.
Procurement & Commercial Expertise
- Extensive experience in strategic sourcing, supplier management, and category strategy—preferably in Aerospace or Defence.
- Commercial acumen with a focus on total cost of ownership, supplier value optimisation, and long-term relationships.
- Proven ability to achieve cost-reduction targets and develop supply chain resilience strategies.
- Experience negotiating complex agreements and managing IP (Intellectual Property) considerations.
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Technical & Project Delivery
- Deep knowledge of New Product Introduction (NPI) and Bid processes, including DFM & DFT principles.
- Lifecycle management expertise, spanning concept through to production and sustainment.
- Experience conducting production readiness reviews, capacity planning, and make/buy decisions.
- Familiarity with digital procurement tools and supply chain technology problem-solving.
Analytical & Strategic Thinking
- Strong analytical skills, capable of interpreting market trends, supplier data, and risk factors.
- Ability to create process improvements and drive operational efficiency.
- Balance short-term business outcomes with long-term supply chain pragmatism.
Soft Skills & Compliance
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and influential communications, including presentations to senior leaders.
- Working knowledge of compliance, governance, and Intellectual Property (IP) requirements in defence/aerospace.
Nationality Requirements
- Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK without restrictions.
- Must be willing to undergo UK National Security Vetting (level determined by security role and applicability).
Ultra PCS: Diverse & Inclusive Employer
Ultra PCS fosters an environment where all candidates are encouraged to apply. We actively promote diversity, inclusion, and equity, committed to building a workforce that reflects varied backgrounds and cultures. We value egalitarian thinking and pride ourselves on delivering exceptional results for our customers.
Open to applications from individuals regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic.
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