Subcontracts Manager

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet.

With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of 3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary Lead the end-to-end subcontract lifecycle for complex production, engineering, tooling, capital equipment, construction, facility, and industrial service requirements supporting acrylic and glass aerospace transparency programs.

Serve as the commercial owner for assigned subcontracts, guiding activities from acquisition planning and source selection through negotiation, award, performance management, change control, claims resolution, and closeout. Safeguard cost, schedule, quality, product safety, intellectual property, export control, and customer requirements while driving accountability across suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Build and maintain a disciplined subcontract management framework that transforms program, technical, manufacturing, and regulatory requirements into executable Statements of Work, measurable supplier commitments, effective contractual flow downs, well documented decisions, and timely corrective actions that support successful program execution.

Job Responsibilities
1. Acquisition Planning, Sourcing and Source Selection Partner with Programs, Engineering, Operations, Quality, Finance, Facilities, EH&S, and end users to develop sourcing strategies, acquisition plans, evaluation criteria, and supplier selection approaches.

Lead supplier qualification, RFIs, RFQs/RFPs, proposal evaluations, negotiations, source selections, and award recommendations.

Evaluate supplier capability, capacity, financial health, technical expertise, quality performance, cybersecurity posture, and supply chain resilience.

Utilize appropriate subcontract and pricing structures based on business objectives and risk considerations.
2. SOW Development, Negotiation and Subcontract Formation Develop clear Statements of Work (SOWs), specifications, deliverables, schedules, acceptance criteria, and reporting requirements.

Draft, negotiate, and administer subcontracts, purchase orders, long term agreements, professional services agreements, and other commercial contracts.

Negotiate pricing, payment terms, warranties, liability, insurance, intellectual property, termination provisions, and performance obligations.

Ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, quality, export control, cybersecurity, and contractual flow down requirements.
3. Supplier Performance and Program Execution Establish supplier governance, communication plans, milestone reviews, performance metrics, and accountability measures.

Monitor supplier cost, schedule, technical, quality, capacity, safety, and contractual performance, driving corrective actions as needed.

Support transparency manufacturing requirements, including tooling, coatings, chemicals, special processes, equipment, testing, maintenance, and facility services.

Escalate risks affecting delivery, quality, safety, operational readiness, or business continuity.
4. Change Control, Claims, Disputes and Risk Management Manage subcontract changes through scope validation, cost and schedule analysis, negotiations, approvals, and formal modifications.

Evaluate and negotiate change…