Job Description

Job Title: Category Leader - MRO
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: Up to 55,000 depending on experience
What you'll be doing:

• Manage key suppliers within the MRO and Production Support categories, ensuring effective performance, compliance and value delivery
• Build and maintain productive relationships with internal stakeholders across multiple functions, levels and sites
• Act as the subject matter expert for assigned categories, developing insight through effective market intelligence and professional networks
• Lead the rollout of point-of-use technology and other innovative procurement solutions across the business
• Develop, own and deliver category strategies that leverage spend, supplier relationships and market opportunities to maximise value
• Source, negotiate and contract new and existing supplier agreements in a professional, compliant and commercially focused manner
• Take a lead role in supplier performance and relationship management, driving continuous improvement and operational excellence
• Challenge conventional procurement practices to identify innovation, enable efficiency and develop value-driven contracting solutions

Your skills and experiences:
Essential

• Experience operating within complex supply chain environments, such as manufacturing, oil and gas, aerospace, automotive, nuclear, or large retailers
• Experience in category management, supplier management, multi-site stakeholder engagement, and indirect procurement
• Commercial and analytical skills, with the ability to use data to make effective procurement decisions
• Experience in formulating and implementing procurement and category strategies

Desirable

• Experience within MRO categories
• CIPS qualification (or working towards)

Benefits
As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts - you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.
The Procurement Team
You will be joining the Category Management team within Indirect Procurement Services, reporting to the Procurement Manager and becoming part of a collaborative and expanding team. You will have the opportunity to influence and shape the category plan, working closely with stakeholders across the business -- from Directors to professionals within procurement, supply chain, Shared Services and wider functions. You will play a key role in delivering procurement excellence, leading the development and implementation of category strategies, and managing contract delivery across the group. In this dynamic role, no two days are the same, and you will have the chance to make the role your own while benefiting from opportunities for growth, development, and expansion within the team.
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 of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you'll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and 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 at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.
Closing Date: 29th October 2025
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.
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Skills Required