Job Title: Senior Procurement Professional – Learning & Development Location: Preston. We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role. Salary: Circa £50,000 depending on skills and experience What You’ll Be Doing Support the development, review and maintenance of a robust category strategy to optimise BAE Systems’ approach to the procurement of Learning & Development, Skills Training, Education and associated services from the external market Lead sourcing exercises in line with the category strategy and company processes to deliver optimum outcomes for the enterprise and will manage or oversee the end-to-end procurement process (stakeholder and demand management, sourcing, supplier selection, contract negotiation and supplier relationship management) for category requirements Support the Indirect Procurement Services (IPS) Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) approach to secure maximum value from existing and new relationships, including involving key internal stakeholders in the process Will foster strong relationships with internal stakeholders and requirement owners and promptly address any escalations within their area of responsibility Business-facing first contact point for the procurement of Skills Training, Education and associated services Will have a continuous improvement mindset and will work with key internal stakeholders to review relevant processes and procedures, identify and execute opportunities to optimise ways of working Essential Your skills and experiences: Experience of leading sourcing exercises including Request for Information (RFI), Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quote (RFQ) and tender activities including; communication with suppliers, tender issue via sourcing platform, tender receipt, tender evaluation., down selection and contract placement A high level of contract knowledge, including experience negotiating terms and conditions Desirable Experience of the Learning & Development and Education Sector, market and commercial models CIPS Level 6 Professional Diploma (MCIPS), or willing to work towards as a minimum Degree-level qualified, or equivalent professional experience Benefits You’ll receive benefits including a competitive pension scheme, enhanced annual leave allowance and a Company contributed Share Incentive Plan. You’ll also have access to additional benefits such as flexible working, an employee assistance programme, Cycle2work and employee discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive. The People Category Team This team provides category management, sourcing and supplier relationship management expertise in Recruitment, Contingent Labour, Global & Domestic Mobility Services, Consultancy, Offload and Learning & Development sub-categories and are looking to add additional expertise in Professional Services to the team. The team’s enterprise-wide scope provides a unique vantage point on the entire business and the opportunity to work with senior stakeholders across the business to deliver changes with significant impact. The team culture is friendly and supportive, we prioritise personal development and continuous improvement as we strive to optimise the services we deliver and provide the maximum value to BAE Systems. Why BAE Systems? This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and particularly from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our industry, including women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ individuals. We also want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments. Please be aware that many roles working for BAE Systems will be subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors including your nationality, any previous nationalities you have held, and your place of birth may limit those roles you can perform for the organisation. Closing Date: 30th October 2024 We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.