Senior Category Manager (Aerospace)
Vertical Aerospace · Bristol
Our Mission
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.
We won't realise our mission following the same legacy processes and traditions our predecessors followed, instead, we want to 'redefine' aerospace best practices. We are growing quickly from a prototype business to a scaling SME, and the next few years will be critical to our success and delivering on our ambitious goals. Valo is targeting airliner-level safety certification in 2029 ahead of entering service with our airline and operator customers.
What to Expect
As a Senior Category Manager, you’ll play a critical role in building the supply chain behind Valo and supporting the transition from aircraft development through certification and into industrialisation.
This is not a traditional procurement role. We’re looking for someone with a deep aerospace background who understands the realities of developing and industrialising complex, highly regulated products including long development cycles, extended supplier lead times, design maturity, qualification, certification, tooling, production readiness and the challenges of moving from engineering development into series production.
You’ll develop and execute category strategies, identify and select strategic aerospace suppliers, lead complex negotiations and build long-term partnerships capable of delivering the required quality, cost, performance, capacity and certification readiness.
We’re looking for a strong senior category manager with deep aerospace knowledge and expertise in one or some of the following product lines:
Airframe
Propellers
Powertrain & Energy Storage
Mechanical Systems
This is an opportunity to shape the supply chain strategy for a new aircraft programme and work at the intersection of aerospace engineering, procurement, programme delivery, certification and industrialisation.
What You’ll Do
Develop and execute end-to-end category and procurement strategies aligned to Valo's product development, certification and industrialisation roadmap.
Use your aerospace experience to understand supplier capability, technology maturity, development risk, qualification requirements and production readiness.
Lead market intelligence, sourcing and supplier-selection activity across complex aerospace categories and global supply markets.
Identify and develop strategic suppliers capable of supporting long-term aircraft programmes and increasing production volumes.
Lead complex, high-value commercial negotiations and establish robust long-term agreements that balance cost, risk, capacity, quality and programme requirements.
Manage the full sourcing and contracting lifecycle, from RFI/RFP through evaluation, negotiation and contract award.
Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Certification, Manufacturing and Programme teams to ensure supplier decisions reflect design maturity, certification requirements and industrialisation needs.
Actively manage supplier performance, development and risk throughout the product lifecycle — from development through qualification and into production.
Identify and mitigate long-lead, capacity, technical, commercial and supply-chain risks that could impact programme milestones.
Use supplier and market intelligence to inform make/buy decisions, technology choices, cost strategies and future supply-chain resilience.
Help build Vertical's procurement capability, aerospace supplier knowledge and category-management approach as the company transitions towards production.
Build trusted, senior-level relationships with strategic suppliers and ensure alignment on programme milestones, technical requirements and production ramp-up.
What You’ll Bring
Significant procurement/category management experience within aerospace, ideally gained across complex aircraft or aerospace product development programmes.
A deep understanding of the aerospace product lifecycle, including development, design maturity, qualification, certification, industrialisation and production ramp-up.
Experience working with the realities of long aerospace development cycles, extended supplier lead times and complex qualification/certification requirements.
Strong understanding of global aerospace supply chains, including the capability, capacity, financial and operational risks associated with strategic suppliers.
Proven experience leading complex, high-value negotiations and commercial agreements with aerospace suppliers.
Experience working cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Programme, Certification and Operations teams.
Strong commercial judgement, analytical capability and the ability to balance cost, technical risk, quality, schedule and programme objectives.
Experience developing strategic supplier relationships rather than simply managing transactional procurement.
A strong understanding of how procurement decisions made during development can impact certification, industrialisation, production readiness and ultimately aircraft delivery.
Experience managing suppliers through change, development challenges and evolving product requirements.
A global outlook, with experience managing suppliers and stakeholders across different markets and cultures.
Degree-level qualification in a relevant discipline and/or relevant CIPS qualification.
Strong communication, influencing and stakeholder-management skills, with the credibility to operate effectively with senior engineering, programme and supplier leadership.
A pragmatic, collaborative and delivery-focused approach, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving aerospace scale-up environment.
Why This Role Matters
The supply chain will be critical to Valo's ability to move from aircraft development to certification and into production.
This role will help ensure Vertical has the right suppliers, commercial arrangements, capacity, capability and industrialisation plans in place to support that journey — while managing the long lead times, technical complexity and certification requirements inherent in aerospace.
What can you expect from us?
We're on a mission. Where others see limits, we see opportunity, and we work at pace. Working at Vertical isn't your average role but for those seeking a challenge, a flexible, supportive organisation and an incredible team; working here is an opportunity to do the best work of your career.
Our approach promotes ingenuity and courage, while our environment builds success through diligence in safety and being open in the way we work. The only way we're going to assure the next chapter of aviation history is by working as a team, relentlessly, towards our goal.
Our benefits
Our people matter - we're not going anywhere without them. Which is why our company benefits go beyond the essentials.
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
We may just be the hardest job you've ever had, but we're confident it will be the most rewarding. Join the team today and help us shape the future of Advanced Air Mobility.
Disclaimer Statement
We encourage you to apply even if you may not have all the experience listed in the advert. We recognise that talent comes in various forms and we are committed to providing opportunities that create an environment of growth, diversity, and inclusion for everyone. As part of our desire to review and make our processes fair, we may ask you questions related to these aspects during the application process. For more information on how we will use your data, see our Legal section.
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