Strategic Supply Chain Manager

About the Role

The Strategic Supply Chain Manager role is within the Lockheed Martin UK Global Supply Chain Organisation, based at our Advanced Manufacturing Facility in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. You will report directly to the Head of Supply Chain and benefit from a 4xFlex working pattern, offering a 4-day working week (Monday - Thursday), with hybrid working on Wednesdays and Thursdays depending on business needs, while Mondays and Tuesdays are fulltime onsite.

You will be accountable for operating at a strategic level, influencing cross-functionally to support business area goal formation and delivery. Your responsibility will be to define and enact strategies that proactively leverage the Supply Chain to positively impact business capture across Armoured Vehicles, Platform Integration, Special Projects, and Weapons areas and domains, meeting both domestic and international programme and business needs. Lockheed Martin UK (Ampthill) has a worldwide supply base, predominantly in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and the US.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, determined, and committed individual who is a confident self-starter with the ability to drive and implement change. You will be a team player with proven management ability in a multi-functional organisation, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and exceptional stakeholder management ability. Flexibility to travel as required in the UK and abroad is essential.

Initially, the role will focus on influencing, coaching, and mentoring skills rather than direct line reporting responsibilities. However, proven direct team management capability will be essential for future growth.

Key Responsibilities

• As the most senior Supply Chain representative within the leadership teams of the two LMUK-A internal Business Areas, ensure the Supply Chain function is correctly positioned to influence Business Area strategy and delivery plans, ensuring proactive and consistent leveraging of supply chain to improve capture and programme delivery performance.
• Specifically accountable to the Head of Supply Chain to define and deliver Supply Chain strategies to improve P-Win/Capture performance in line with business growth targets and managing third-party interactions and relationships to achieve that goal.
• Accountable for all Supply Chain risk and opportunity management for both Business Areas.
• Utilise influencing and coaching skills to align tactical supply chain delivery to all strategic requirements, where said tactical activity is managed by peers within the Functional structure.
• As delegated by the Head of Supply Chain, act as an escalation point to manage subordinate teams overseeing the management of supplier cost, schedule, and technical performance for commercial, MOD, and international programs.
• Lead multifunctional subcontract management teams, comprising quality, engineering, and other supply chain team members, for strategic suppliers as required.
• Hold senior acquisition delegation and sign supplier agreements within this authority.
• Direct contract administration resources and develop subcontract specifications, statements of work, and terms and conditions for the procurement of specialised materials, equipment, and services for subcontract systems in support of development, production, and sustainment, using multiple contract types as required.
• If required, direct management and development of Supply Chain staff, including coordinating subordinate employee recruitment, selection and training, performance assessment, work assignments, salary, and recognition/disciplinary actions.

Required Skills, Qualifications, and Experience

• Demonstrable experience in a Strategic Supply Chain role within the Defence or related industry sector.
• Proven ability to operate at a strategic level, influencing cross-functionally to support business and business area goal formation and delivery.
• Experience of directly and indirectly managing a team of Supply Chain specialists.
• Defining activities that benefit Supply Chain.
• Ability to manage multiple suppliers to meet cost, schedule, and technical performance requirements of highly complex subcontracts.
• Capable of identifying and mitigating risks and implementing effective mitigation strategies.
• Success in working in multi-functional organisations.
• Able to achieve delivery to tight schedules in a dynamic work environment.

Desired Skills

• Experience in developing subcontracts to support new business, including bids and captures for complex items and systems.
• Knowledge of SAP (or similar) ERP systems.
• CIPS qualification.

What We Offer You

At Lockheed Martin, our employees come first, so your physical, mental, and financial wellbeing matters to us. In addition to working in a highly supportive, friendly, and respectful environment, you can expect much more.

We support Flexible working with the option of a 4-day week depending on business requirements, giving you the option of Fridays off. We offer competitive salaries alongside flexible holiday entitlement.

We have a wealth of benefits available that can be selected through our wellbeing tool upon commencement of employment. Some of our amazing benefits include:

• Private Medical Insurance
• Competitive Pension
• Dental
• Critical Illness
• Life Assurance
• Travel Insurance
• Employee discounts for top high street shops
• Employee Assistance Program (including free face-to-face counselling sessions, legal advice, financial advice, etc.)
• Internal training and development alongside our Education assistance programmes
• Reimbursement for professional memberships
• Competitive policies supporting flexibility and family leave, inclusive of enhanced maternity leave.