Southampton |
We're not looking for a caretaker. We're looking for someone hungry to make their mark.
We're the UK arm of a global shipbuilding group known for high-performance vessels built for defence, government, and commercial clients around the world. Backed by serious international scale and a growing order book, we're building our UK presence from the ground up, running lean, moving fast, and punching well above our size.
That means real autonomy. Real ownership. And a genuine seat at the table as we scale.
If you're ambitious, restless, and ready to prove what you can do, if you've already had a taste of defence or government contracting and you're itching for more responsibility than your current role gives you — this is your chance to stop being a cog in someone else's machine and start building something that's actually yours.
The Role
You'll build and run our Purchasing function from the ground up, defining the policy, strategy, and tactics behind how we procure for the Defence Business Unit, and setting the annual savings targets that keep us competitive as a group. Reporting to the CEO, with a functional line into Group Head of Purchasing, you'll have real authority to shape how procurement works here, not just administer someone else's process.
This is a role for someone who wants to own a function, not just staff it, negotiating directly with combat system and DBU suppliers, resolving disputes when they matter most, and building the standardisation and volume-effect thinking that makes a growing business genuinely competitive.
What you'll be doing
* Managing the Purchasing Service, including departmental budgets alongside the CEO and CFO
* Defining and implementing procurement policy, strategy, and tactics across the business
* Building specific procurement plans for each new project
* Analysing needs across the business — researching, consulting, and selecting suppliers
* Leading contractual negotiations with combat system and other DBU suppliers
* Stepping in to resolve major supplier disputes
* Managing purchasing budget compliance across every project
* Driving component standardisation to create volume effect across the Group
* Reporting periodically to Head Office and proposing process improvements for their approval
What we're looking for
* 2+ years' experience as a Defence Buyer or Purchasing Manager, ideally within manufacturing or shipbuilding and across multiple sites
* Experience interacting with MOD(UK) as a customer is a strong plus, but not essential — the right instincts and ambition matter more than a perfect CV
* Genuine negotiation skills, and the confidence to lead discussions with technical contacts across a multicultural environment
* Strong interpersonal and listening skills — someone who builds trust quickly, internally and externally
* Comfortable defining and managing your own priorities, working independently, and driving improvement without being told to
* Confident with ERP and standard office tools
* Fluent English essential; French desirable
* Eligible for UK security clearance — British national, or an overseas national eligible for clearance with at least 5 years' UK residency
* Most importantly: dynamic, driven, unapologetically ambitious, and genuinely excited by the idea of building something rather than just running it
Why join us
* Autonomy from day one you won't be micromanaged, you'll be trusted to build the function your way
* Backing without the bureaucracy parent company strength, start-up speed
* Shareholder opportunity build equity in a business that's going somewhere, not just draw a salary
* A genuine growth story join early, grow with us, and help shape what this business becomes as we push toward global leadership
* Private health insurance, incentivisation scheme, flexible working
The Package
* Competitive salary, dependent on experience
* Shareholder / equity opportunity
* Private health insurance
* Incentivisation scheme
* Flexible working hours
Salary description
£40000.00 - £70000.00 per year