Category Manager

As a Category Manager you'll be joining our Aircraft Procurement team, assisting us in selecting key supply chain partners who share our vision and values, negotiating contracts with those partners and managing our subsequent relationship with them, pushing them to excel.

The Category Manager positions span four key areas:

• Airframe
• Propellers
• Powertrain & Energy Storage
• Mechanical Systems

You will be responsible for developing the end-to-end procurement strategy for our Valo programme contributing to the continued development of our in-house expertise, specialist knowledge and capabilities.

You will research, plan and execute the process of sourcing and selecting suppliers, evaluating potential suppliers based on criteria such as cost, quality and reliability.

You will manage the negotiation of complex, long-term, high-value contracts and oversee the entire contracting process, from the initial stages of preparing and issuing Requests for Information (RFI) and Requests for Proposal (RFP) to evaluating responses and securing contract terms.

You'll build strong partnerships with our key suppliers, managing supplier performance to secure on time, cost efficient and quality products whilst mitigating risk.

You'll be a strategic thinker who drives success by understanding market insights, VA and our supplier’s business priorities.

This role contributes to pioneering electric aviation by selecting supply chain partners who share the vision for zero-emissions aircraft, helping to set new safety standards and redefine aerospace best practices for sustainable air mobility.

• A degree or equivalent in a business-related field or CIPS qualification
• Experience working in procurement within a regulated or complex industry, working closely with suppliers or customers in a global business
• Strong commercial management skills and the ability to demonstrate prior contract negotiation experience
• Global outlook and exposure to different challenges, cultures, and ways of working; willingness to learn and be part of a fast-paced diverse team
• Solid project management experience demonstrating technical skills, analytical ability, and operational focus
• Ability to build and maintain lasting relationships, both with key internal stakeholders as well as our suppliers

• 26 days holiday, plus bank holiday
• 5 extra days per year to buy (or sell)
• 5 extra days holiday when you get married or enter a civil partnership
• Additional 4% of your salary to spend on extra benefits
• Award-winning digital health and wellbeing service (Help@Hand)
• Company performance based bonus - rewarding company and individual performance
• Company Share Scheme - open to every Vertical employee
• Company Pension Scheme - 5% and we match it
• Breakfast on us, every day

At Vertical Aerospace, we are pioneering the way for electric aviation. The Valo, our eVTOL (electric, vertical, take-off and landing), ‘zero emissions’ aircraft will set a new safety standard for how we will navigate the sky.