Procurement Supervisor

Building the space between proven and possible, MDA Space is a trusted mission partner to the global space industry. A robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 55-year+ story of world firsts and more than 450 missions, MDA Space is a global leader in communications satellites, Earth and space observation, and space exploration and infrastructure. The global MDA Space team of more than 3,800 space experts has the knowledge and know-how to turn an audacious customer vision into an achievable mission – bringing to bear a one-of-a-kind mix of experience, engineering excellence and wide-eyed wonder that’s been in our DNA since day one. For those who dream big and push boundaries on the ground and in the stars to change the world for the better, we’ll take you there. For more information, visit www.mda.space.

MDA Space’s international footprint in the UK creates opportunities to work with some of the most exciting space industrial players in the country. Delivering all three business area capabilities in Geointelligence, Robotics & Space Operations, and Satellite Systems, our UK team provides support to our European-based customers while specializing in the development of advanced space sensors for exploration missions as well as space-based communication technology. As our presence grows overseas, so does our need for new ambitious team players to help us advance our place in the Universe and beyond.

We're on the hunt for a Supply Chain & Procurement Manager

Location: Harwell, Oxfordshire
Reporting to: Operations Director– UK

Role Purpose

The Supply Chain & Procurement Manager will be responsible for leading and developing the MDA Space UK supply chain and procurement function, ensuring that the business has a robust, resilient, commercially effective and scalable supply chain capable of supporting current programmes and future growth.

Reporting directly to the Operations Director, the role combines operational leadership, strategic supply chain development and transformation. The postholder will manage the existing Buyers and procurement team while developing and implementing the longer-term supply chain strategy, operating model and transformation programme for MDA Space UK.

The role will work across Operations, Engineering, Programmes, Quality, Finance and the wider MDA Space organisation to ensure that supply chain capability, supplier capacity, commercial performance and procurement processes are aligned with the strategic requirements of the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and own the MDA Space UK Supply Chain Strategy, establishing a clear three-to-five-year roadmap that supports the company's growth plans, programme requirements and future operational capability.
• Develop the future supply chain operating model, assessing the current organisation, capabilities, processes, systems and resources and defining the structure and capability required to support the future growth of MDA Space UK.
• Translate business and programme requirements into supply chain strategy, ensuring that future demand, programme schedules, capacity requirements and technology requirements are reflected in supply chain planning.
• Provide strategic supply chain advice to the Operations Director and UK leadership team, identifying risks, opportunities, investment requirements and areas requiring management intervention.
• Lead and manage the UK Procurement and Buying function, providing clear direction, objectives, performance management and development for the Buyers reporting into the role. Develop and implement sourcing strategies, ensuring that key categories and areas of expenditure have appropriate sourcing, negotiation and supplier-management strategies.
• Develop a strategic supplier management framework, establishing appropriate segmentation of suppliers according to spend, criticality, risk, capability and strategic importance. Ensuring that suppliers are measured against agreed cost, quality, delivery, responsiveness and risk objectives.
• Develop supplier resilience and continuity strategies, identifying single-source dependencies, capacity constraints, long-lead items and other supply risks and establishing appropriate mitigation plans. Develop the UK supplier network, identifying opportunities for new suppliers, alternative sources, dual sourcing and supplier development where required.
• Review and improve the existing supply chain processes, identifying inefficiencies, duplication, manual activity and areas where stronger governance or automation can improve performance. Drive improvements in ERP utilisation, ensuring that supply chain data, purchasing information, planning information and supplier information are accurate, timely and effectively used.
• Improve inventory management and control, ensuring that inventory levels are appropriate to programme requirements while minimising excess, obsolete and unnecessary stock. Working with Finance, Operations and ERP owners to ensure that system information accurately reflects the physical supply chain.
• Develop and deliver procurement cost-reduction and value-generation initiatives, identifying opportunities to reduce cost while protecting quality, delivery and programme performance.
• Support business bids and new programme opportunities, providing supplier strategy, sourcing information, cost estimates, capacity assessments and supply chain risk assessments.
• Develop and maintain a supply chain risk register, identifying critical supplier, capacity, financial, geopolitical, commercial and operational risks. Ensure procurement and supply chain activities comply with MDA Space UK policies and applicable legislation, including relevant aerospace, defence, space and export-control requirements.
• Work closely with Quality to ensure supplier compliance and capability, including supplier qualification, audits, corrective actions and performance improvement.
• Act as the Senior Supply Chain and Procurement representative for MDA Space UK, working as a strategic partner to Operations, Engineering, Programmes, Quality and Finance. Building strong cross-functional relationships, ensuring that supply chain considerations are incorporated into programme and operational decision-making at an early stage.
• Work collaboratively with MDA Space Canada and other MDA Space locations, identifying opportunities for global sourcing, supplier leverage, standardisation and sharing of best practice.