AALTO
Procurement Officer (Direct)
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Location: Farnborough - Parking onsite
Contract Type: Full Time, Permanent
Hours: 37 – Hybrid
Travel: Yes
AALTO, a global leader in Stratospace. Based in Farnborough, AALTO is an Airbus subsidiary that manufactures, operates, and delivers services with its solar-powered, stratospheric platform: Zephyr.
Zephyr’s persistence enables continuous flight for months at a time. Its current flight-time record of over 67 days in the stratosphere. From above 60,000+ft, or 20km above ground, AALTO can deliver several applications including direct-to-device connectivity and high-resolution Earth observation.
AALTO operates in a new operational layer between most of air traffic and low-Earth orbit, Stratospace. This is where high-altitude platforms led by Zephyr deliver services to commercial and government partners. We can help monitor environments, observe borders, track natural disasters and connect unconnected communities.
Join us as we create a new domain of aerospace: Stratospace. You’ll be part of a highly-skilled, innovative and passionate group of people – Team AALTO. Together, we can Unlock Stratospace.
About The Role
We’re looking for a Procurement Officer to join our team and help manage the full procurement lifecycle across key aerospace commodity groups, including Avionics, Power on Board and Electrical Wiring Interconnection System (EWIS). In this role, you’ll play an important part in making sure we secure the right components, systems and services on time, at the right quality, and with strong commercial value — directly supporting product development, manufacturing and in-service support.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a fast-moving, collaborative environment and wants to make a real impact. You’ll support the transformation and development of our Direct spend commodity groups, working closely with teams across the business to shape sourcing strategies, build strong supplier partnerships, and support programme delivery. You’ll also help improve procurement processes, systems and performance management as we continue to grow and evolve.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Use your procurement experience to develop and deliver strategies for Avionics, Power on Board and Electrical Wiring Interconnection System (EWIS).
- Explore market trends, assess supplier options and identify opportunities to strengthen and optimise the supply chain.
- Lead supplier selection activities, from RFx processes and proposal reviews through to supplier assessments and technical and commercial recommendations.
- Negotiate long-term agreements, pricing and contract terms that deliver strong value and protect the business.
- Manage contract changes, claims, cost-saving opportunities and budgets for your assigned commodities.
- Work closely with internal teams to ensure sourcing activity, supplier engagement and contracts meet regulatory, export control and governance requirements.
- Build positive supplier relationships and manage performance against key measures such as cost, quality, delivery and technical capability.
- Support supplier development initiatives that improve manufacturing readiness, capacity and adherence to aerospace standards.
- Help resolve supplier performance issues and manage risks that could affect programme delivery.
- Partner with Engineering to ensure specifications, drawings and technical packages align with supplier capabilities and cost targets.
- Work with the Programme Management Office to support schedule alignment, milestone reviews and risk mitigation.
- Collaborate with Supply Chain Quality Assurance to address non-conformances, audits and continuous improvement activities.
- Keep an eye on supply chain risks, including long-lead items, capacity constraints, obsolescence and regulatory changes.
- Maintain accurate procurement data, lead-time information and contract records within ERP and other business systems.
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What We’re Looking For
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an adaptable approach and a positive, proactive mindset.
- Experience developing and delivering procurement strategies.
- Excellent organisation, supplier relationship and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, collaborate and manage challenge constructively.
- A background in preparing, managing and evaluating tenders, with strong negotiation skills.
- Experience in contract management and supplier development.
- Procurement experience in aerospace, defence or another high-complexity, regulated industry.
- Experience managing technical commodities such as Avionics, Power on Board or Electrical Wiring Interconnection System (EWIS) would be a real advantage.
- Familiarity with ISO9001, EN/AS9100 and CAA requirements.
- A degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business or a related field — or equivalent experience — would be desirable.
- Confidence using Microsoft 365 and ERP systems such as SAP or Microsoft Dynamics 365.
You’ll Also Bring
- Experience of formal sourcing processes and an understanding of contractual risks and how to manage or mitigate them.
- Enthusiasm, strong influencing skills and the confidence to work with people at all levels while bringing fresh ideas and constructively challenging the norm.
- A self-motivated, commercially aware approach and strong problem-solving skills.
- The ability to work to deadlines, adapt to changing priorities and manage your time effectively.
- A collaborative approach and a commitment to acting with integrity and team spirit.
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Desirable Skills And Experience
- A full, valid driving licence and access to your own vehicle.
In Addition To An Attractive Market-aligned Salary, We Offer
- Rewarding Excellence: Benefit from our short-term incentive plan that rewards your hard work and dedication.
- Enjoy Your Time Off: Benefit from 25 days of holiday to relax and recharge.
- Stay Healthy: We’ve got your health covered with private medical insurance, along with dental and optical cash back.
- Secure Your Future: Take advantage of our personal pension plan to ensure a comfortable retirement.
- Peace of Mind: Our income protection and life assurance schemes are there to support you when you need it most.
- Getting around: Drive the latest vehicles with our discounted salary sacrifice scheme.
- We Care About You: Our employee assistance programme is always available to provide the support you need.
- Perks Galore: Enjoy a range of employee discounts via Perkbox, from household goods to travel!
Does this opportunity excite you but you’re not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’ll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?
If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at AALTO, you can register your details here: https://careers.aaltohaps.com/connect
At AALTO, we take pride in building and offering an exceptional work environment that values your well-being and rewards your dedication. We believe in recognising your hard work and commitment, which is why we provide a fantastic bonus scheme that rewards your contributions. Additionally, we understand the importance of financial security and support your future with a competitive pension plan. When you join us, you become part of a workplace that not only encourages your professional growth but also cares about your personal fulfilment and financial stability.
AALTO is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.
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