NPI & Bid Manager

Ultra Precision Control Systems (Ultra PCS) is a leading developer of mission‑ and safety‑critical equipment for the defense and aerospace industry. We work in a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment and focus on delivering engineering solutions to our customers' most demanding challenges.

Our solutions are found in modern military aircraft and vehicles, civil aircraft, and unmanned vehicles.

We offer flexible working options, including hybrid, full‑time, part‑time, and other arrangements to suit your lifestyle.

Ultra PCS is looking for a NPI & Bid Manager to join the Supply Chain Function and lead and manage the Projects & Bid category. In this role you will lead a Project Procurement team, delivering world‑class procurement capabilities, partnering with internal stakeholders to ensure maximum value for all money spent with suppliers. This is accomplished by executing effective strategies, which include supplier‑engaged DFM activity, supplier management and sourcing decisions, aligning with the best suppliers, and driving compliance with our intellectual property and privacy requirements.

You will continuously strive to obtain the right price and quality for the right product or service, and contribute to the effective design of new products with consideration of manufacturability and product life‑cycle management.

• Lead and develop the project and bid team.
• Provide status updates on projects and ensure that business priorities are met.
• Ensure that parameters and agreements are in place for new products being transferred to production; identify and establish long‑term supplier partners focussing on the “total cost” of supply, establishing mutually beneficial partnerships.
• Align with category managers to reduce the supplier base and ensure suppliers are of the correct size and exhibit the expected behaviours and product output (quality and on time).
• Ensure the team is agile and continually evaluate and monitor market conditions and adjust sourcing strategies accordingly.
• Through production readiness reviews and capacity plans, ensure each supplier in the product categories can meet their commitments and deliver production volumes.
• Identify, present, and influence Technology Enablement solutions to drive efficiency.
• Ensure the NPI & Bid team supports and influences future new designs with Engineering, utilising intelligence and capabilities from our supply chain.
• Maximise the DFM and DFT opportunities to reduce the design cycle, remove costs, and deliver efficient designs.
• Collaborate and influence with the equivalent leads in operations, quality, engineering, PM and other functions to meet the business objectives.
• Implement make‑buy strategies, resulting in “turnkey” supplier solutions, reducing lead times and cost caused by internal processing.
• Continuously identify and deliver efficiency and cost savings.
• Report monthly to Head of Sourcing & Resilience on initiatives, opportunities, risks, objective.

• Proven experience leading and developing multi-disciplinary procurement or project sourcing teams within a complex engineering or manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership capability with a track record of driving high performance, developing talent, and aligning team objectives to business strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate effectively across functions including Engineering, Quality, Operations, and Programme Management.

• Extensive experience in strategic sourcing, supplier management, and category strategy development, ideally within Aerospace, Defence, or other highly regulated sectors.
• Strong commercial acumen with a focus on total cost of ownership, value optimisation, and supplier performance management.
• Proven ability to deliver measurable cost reduction targets and identify long‑term value creation opportunities.
• Experience establishing and managing long‑term supplier partnerships, including negotiation of complex agreements and intellectual property considerations.

• Deep understanding of New Product Introduction (NPI) and Bid…