Procurement Director

Overview

As Procurement Director for Optronics & Missile Electronics UK, you will lead a high-profile procurement function across bids, programmes and products, shaping strategy and supplier partnerships to deliver performance and value. You’ll manage a 10–15 person team and collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Programme and Finance leaders to enable growth and operational excellence. The role combines strategic direction with hands-on supplier management in a complex engineering environment. You will influence senior stakeholders and contribute to Thales UK’s long-term procurement strategy. This is a pivotal opportunity to strengthen national security through resilient supply chains.

Pay / Benefits

• Performance-related bonus
• Half day every Friday
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays with buy-up option
• 24 hours volunteering paid for
• Private healthcare
• Pension scheme

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to the OME UK procurement organisation and foster an inclusive, high-performing team
• Act as senior procurement representative for the business, informing strategic decision-making and planning
• Lead procurement across bids, programmes, projects and products, balancing cost, quality, schedule and risk
• Develop and strengthen supplier relationships to ensure a resilient and competitive supply chain
• Drive value creation and performance through sourcing strategies, supplier management and continuous improvement
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Programmes, Finance and Business leadership to deliver outcomes
• Champion transformation, innovation and operational excellence within procurement
• Contribute to the wider UK Procurement strategy and shape procurement direction across Thales

Key requirements

• Significant leadership experience within Procurement, Supply Chain or related commercial function
• Experience leading, coaching and developing teams in complex, matrix organisations
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders across multiple business functions
• Strong procurement, commercial and supplier management expertise in large engineering/manufacturing/tech environments
• Experience leading change, transformation and continuous improvement initiatives
• Excellent communication, engagement and relationship-building skills
• Defence industry experience is advantageous but not essential

• Strategic thinking
• Collaborative leadership
• Influencing and stakeholder engagement
• Procurement strategy
• Supplier management
• Continuous improvement

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