Category Sourcing Lead

We are Ultra Precision Control Systems. Ultra PCS is a leading developer of mission and safety critical equipment in the defence and aerospace industry. Our team of experts are at the heart of our success, which is why we are dedicated to fostering a safe working environment and a positive culture where every staff member feels valued and respected. We solve our customers' problems, providing engineering solutions to safety and mission critical challenges in the air and on the ground.

Our solutions can be found in the latest military aircraft and vehicles, in civil aircraft, and in unmanned vehicles. We help to ensure our customers get to where they need to be safely, achieve their objectives and keep on going back.

Flexible Working:
Wherever possible, we will consider a variety of working options to suit your lifestyle, whether that be hybrid home/office working, flexible working and part or full time employment.

Ultra Precision Control Systems (PCS) is looking for a Category Sourcing Lead on a 12 month Fixed Term Contract. In this role you will lead a commodity delivering world‑class procurement capabilities, partnering with internal stakeholders to ensure they receive maximum value for all money spent with suppliers. This is accomplished by executing effective strategies, which include category management, supplier management and sourcing decisions.

Adding value by aligning ourselves with the best suppliers, promoting continuous improvement in supplier performance and driving compliance with our intellectual property and privacy requirements. Continuously striving to obtain the right price and quality for the right product or service.

• Establish & implement long term agreements ensuring full compliance to company terms.
• Create and deliver commodity strategies, incorporating favourable payment terms, buffer inventory > 1 month at suppliers.
• Identify & establish long term supplier partners focussing on the “total cost” of supply, thus establishing mutually beneficial partnerships.
• Target 5% reduction; reduce supplier base by category by 20% and ensure suppliers are of the correct size and exhibit the expected behaviours and product output (to quality and on time).
• Identify all parts that are single source.
• Implement strategies to mitigate risks to the business.
• Ensure the team are agile & continuously evaluate and monitor market conditions and adjust sourcing strategies accordingly.
• Lead supplier cost reduction workshops to achieve year on year savings (KPI to be agreed per category).
• Ensure, through production readiness reviews and capacity plans, that each supplier in the product categories has the ability to meet their commitments.
• Ensure supplier business reviews are performed with Tactical team at least each quarter with all key strategic suppliers, identify opportunities for improvement, risks, and mitigation.
• Identify, present and influence Technology Enablement solutions to drive efficiency.
• Ensure the SC team are supporting and influencing future new designs with Engineering, utilising intelligence and capabilities from our supply chain.
• Maximise the DFM & DFT opportunities to reduce the design cycle, remove costs and thus deliver efficient designs.
• Collaborate & 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 & cost caused by internal processing.
• Continuously identify & deliver efficiency & cost savings.
• Report monthly to Head of Sourcing & Resilience on initiatives, opportunities, risks, objectives.

• Strong background in procurement, category management, and supplier consolidation.
• Proven track record in negotiation, cost reduction, and risk mitigation.
• Experience leading supplier relationships, contracts, and performance reviews.
• Commercially astute with ability to adapt strategies to market conditions.
• Skilled in cross‑functional collaboration and influencing stakeholders.
• Knowledge of DFM/DFT, make/buy analysis, and supply chain resilience.