Smiths Group
Senior Cost Engineering Manager
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Company Description
Every minute of every day, Smiths Detection’s threat detection and security screening technology helps to protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place.
Smiths Detection, a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions designed to make the world a safer place. Our technology provides threat detection and screening solutions for customers in our key markets: aviation, ports and borders, defence, and urban security.
Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centres, with a global network of 3,000 dedicated colleagues contributing towards over 40 years at the frontline of advances in safety and security.
This results in careers built on variety and the opportunity to work on a range of state-of-the-art solutions, where you can develop your knowledge and experience every day.
Job Description
This is an opportunity to build and lead one of the most strategically important capabilities within our Global Procurement organisation.
We're looking for a commercially astute, technically credible and highly influential leader to take ownership of Procurement Value Delivery across the business. This role goes far beyond traditional procurement and sourcing. It is focused on identifying, validating and realising sustainable enterprise value through close collaboration with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain and our global supplier network.
Internally, this role will be called Head of Procurement Value Delivery.
Reporting to the Global Procurement Director, you will be responsible for ensuring procurement delivers measurable financial, operational and strategic value that is visible in business performance, trusted by Finance and embraced by senior leadership.
This is a role for someone who enjoys challenging convention, putting structure around complex problems, and building new capabilities within a transforming global organisation.
The Role
As Head of Procurement Value Delivery, you will act as the bridge between Procurement, Engineering and the Supply Base, driving disciplined value creation throughout the product lifecycle.
You will own the framework, governance, analytics and processes that ensure procurement initiatives translate into genuine, auditable business results. From New Product Introduction through to product end-of-life management, you will ensure value opportunities are identified early, validated rigorously and delivered sustainably.
A key focus of the role will be leading cost engineering and value engineering activities, leveraging should-cost methodologies, benchmark data and market intelligence to optimise product and supply chain decisions.
You will also lead a team of specialists responsible for delivering insight, governance and value realisation across the enterprise.
This role will include extensive International travel, you should expect up to 60%. We can only accept applications from candidates eligible to obtain UK SC Clearance.
What you will be doing:
Value Delivery Leadership:
- Develop and own the global Procurement Value Delivery framework.
- Establish robust methodologies for value identification, validation, tracking and realisation.
- Create governance processes that ensure procurement benefits are credible, auditable and sustainable.
- Lead value assurance reviews and stakeholder governance forums.
- Drive a culture of accountability and transparency around value delivery.
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Cost Engineering and Value Engineering:
- Lead advanced cost engineering and should-cost activities across products and commodities.
- Partner with Engineering to drive Design-to-Cost and Value Analysis/Value Engineering initiatives.
- Support sourcing strategies through benchmarking, modelling and market intelligence.
- Challenge cost assumptions and identify opportunities throughout the product lifecycle.
- Drive value creation through product design, manufacturing optimisation and supply chain improvement.
New Product Introduction and Lifecycle Management:
- Serve as Procurement's lead for New Product Introduction activities.
- Ensure cost competitiveness and value optimisation are embedded early in product development.
- Lead Procurement's involvement in End-of-Life planning and execution.
- Partner with Engineering to proactively manage component obsolescence and supply chain risk.
Analytics and Performance:
- Develop procurement value KPIs, dashboards and executive reporting.
- Track realised savings and benefits against budgets, forecasts and financial outcomes.
- Deliver advanced analytics including demand analysis, opportunity assessment and should-cost modelling.
- Provide insight and challenge to category and sourcing strategies.
Stakeholder Management:
- Partner closely with senior leaders across Engineering, Operations, Portfolio Management, Supply Chain and Finance.
- Present value delivery outcomes and strategic recommendations to executive stakeholders.
- Influence decision-making across a complex global matrix organisation.
- Resolve challenges around benefit ownership, attribution and value realisation.
Team Leadership:
- Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team of direct reports.
- Build organisational capability in value management, cost engineering and procurement excellence.
- Introduce tools, standards, playbooks and best practice methodologies.
- Foster a culture focused on continuous improvement, ownership and results.
About You
We're looking for a leader who combines deep technical understanding with strong commercial acumen and executive-level influencing skills.
You are likely to have built your career within Cost Engineering, Value Engineering, Procurement Excellence, Strategic Procurement or Manufacturing Operations and have a proven track record of delivering significant business value in complex engineering-led organisations.
You will bring:
- Cost Engineering leadership.
- Manufacturing or industrial engineering environments.
- Aerospace, defence, transportation, automotive, industrial technology or other complex engineered products.
- Supply chain optimisation and procurement transformation.
- Enterprise-wide deployment of cost modelling and should-cost tools.
- Building and leading high-performing specialist teams.
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Why This Role?
This position has been created to strengthen a critical capability at the heart of a transforming global procurement organisation.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape how procurement delivers value across the business, influence strategic product and sourcing decisions, and build a function recognised as a trusted partner to Engineering, Operations and senior leadership.
If you have successfully combined engineering credibility, commercial leadership and value creation throughout your career, and are excited by the opportunity to build, influence and leave a lasting impact, we would welcome a conversation.
Qualifications
- Significant leadership experience within Procurement, Cost Engineering, Value Management or Procurement Excellence.
- Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, product cost structures and supply chain economics.
- Strong experience partnering with Engineering and Product Development teams.
- Expertise in should-cost modelling, Design-to-Cost, Value Analysis and Value Engineering methodologies.
- Demonstrated success building teams, frameworks and organisational capabilities from the ground up.
- Experience supporting New Product Introduction and product lifecycle management.
- Strong analytical capability and confidence working with complex datasets and reporting tools.
- Ability to influence senior stakeholders and challenge established thinking constructively.
- Experience operating within global, matrix environments.
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred
Additional Information
Join us and we’ll help build your career, with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business, both locally and globally. You’ll experience an inclusive environment, with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. You’ll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle, offering you and your family support from a health and wellbeing, financial and lifestyle perspective.
Join us and work for a world-leader, with the benefits and training to reward your dedication and skills. Be part of a team where we are making the world a safer place.
We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.
At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Detection, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website.
Grade: 14
Employee Group: Permanent
Global Region: Europe
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