Senior Procurement Category Manager (6-month secondment) – Machining Category

Job Description

Senior Procurement Category Manager (6-month secondment) – Machining Category

Full Time

Derby/Hybrid

This is a fantastic opportunity to step into one of the most commercially significant areas of the Rolls-Royce supply chain. As part of the In-Contract Excellence team within the Machining category, you’ll gain first-hand experience managing our most critical supplier relationships while working alongside senior leaders and cross-functional partners.

This 6-month interim position has been created to provide cover while key team members are seconded onto a major business project. It offers a unique chance to experience the Machining category first-hand, demonstrate leadership in a complex commercial environment, and gain visibility across the Procurement and Operations leadership teams. Strong performance in this role will position the successful candidate well for future resourcing and career development opportunities within Machining and Procurement more broadly.

What you will be doing

We are looking for Senior Procurement Category Manager to lead the In-Contract management of the key fan case, rings and compressor aerofoil suppliers within the Machining category. You’ll be at the forefront of delivering value from our existing contracts, ensuring both Rolls-Royce and our suppliers live up to their commitments. This role offers a real opportunity to make a measurable difference: reducing cost, driving supplier performance, and shaping how we manage our most important partners.

You’ll blend leadership and hands-on commercial delivery, working closely with colleagues in Supplier Management Teams, Strategic Procurement, Engineering and Quality to turn opportunities into results. The role is ideal for someone who enjoys combining data-driven analysis, complex negotiations, and team leadership — all within a fast-moving, high-profile environment.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead major commercial negotiations on complex claims and near-term contract extensions, protecting our position while creating long-term value.
• Develop and deliver a pipeline of cost-out and value-creation initiatives, using commercial, technical, and operational levers to deliver sustained benefits.
• Take ownership of supplier relationship management (SRM) with group-level Aerospace suppliers, develop a Key Account Management approach to drive a unified Rolls-Royce action plan and communications.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, championing standard work, lessons learned, and smarter ways of working across the Procurement team.
• Lead, motivate, and develop a team of four Buyers, building confidence, resilience, and professional capability to engage effectively with challenging suppliers.
• Provide visible leadership on safety, ethics, and compliance, embedding these principles in every aspect of the team’s work.

Why Rolls-Royce?

Work with us and we’ll welcome you into a culture of caring and belonging where you can be yourself. We will listen first, embrace feedback and act with integrity. We will invest in your continuous learning and development, and make sure you have access to a wide breadth and depth of opportunities to grow your career and make a difference.

We offer excellent development, a competitive salary, and exceptional benefits. These include bonus, employee support assistance and employee discounts.

Hybrid working is a way in which our people can balance their time between the office, home, or another remote location.  It’s a locally managed and flexed informal discretionary arrangement.  As a minimum we’re all expected to attend the workplace for collaboration and other specific reasons, frequency will depend on business needs, nature of role, what works for the team and for the individual. Discover more on our GBS Service Portal about hybrid working.

Who we’re looking for

To be successful in this role, you’ll bring strong commercial acumen, a structured work ethic and a strategic mindset. You’ll thrive in a dynamic environment and enjoy solving complex problems. Specifically, you’ll need:

• Experience in Direct and/or Indirect Procurement within a regulated or complex industry.
• A degree (BA level) and/or CIPS qualifications.
• Excellent collaboration skills with internal Supplier Management, Finance and General Counsel teams.
• A track record of leading negotiations at a senior level and delivering commercial value.
• Expertise in relationship management, in-contract cost reduction and team leadership.
• Understanding of Total Cost of Acquisition / Product Cost Lifecycles and commercial levers.
• A passion for driving change and making a measurable difference.
• Join us & help Rolls-Royce to become a high-performing, competitive, resilient business.
• Experience in Direct and/or Indirect Procurement within a regulated or complex industry.
• A degree (BA level) and/or CIPS qualifications.
• Excellent collaboration skills with internal Supplier Management, Finance and General Counsel teams.
• A track record of leading negotiations at a senior level and delivering commercial value.
• Expertise in relationship management, in-contract cost reduction and team leadership.
• Understanding of Total Cost of Acquisition / Product Cost Lifecycles and commercial levers.
• A passion for driving change and making a measurable difference.
• Join us & help Rolls-Royce to become a high-performing, competitive, resilient business.

Please be aware that the priority will be given to employees identified as being at high risk.

The professional level and the salary of the position will be dependent on the skills and experience of the successful candidate.

It is advised that you inform your current manager of your application for this role.

We are an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to developing a diverse workforce and an inclusive working environment. We believe that people from different backgrounds and cultures give us different perspectives. And the more perspectives we have, the more successful we’ll be. By building a culture of respect and appreciation, we give everyone who works here the opportunity to realise their full potential.

Learn more about our global Inclusion Strategy

• Grade: Level B, open to all levels to apply
• Closing Date: 19th October 2025
• People Leader: David Wray
• For further information please contact: Batinder Chana

Job Category

Procurement

Posting Date

09 Oct 2025; 00:10

Posting End Date

19 Oct 2025