Supplier Development & Quality Manager

Job Title: Supplier Development and Quality Manager

Location: Portsmouth. We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role

Salary: Circa £65,000 depending on skills and experience

Who we are:

Join BAE Systems and you’ll be part of something bigger. As a valued member of our global colleague network, you’ll bring your unique skills and perspectives to help pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You’ll be trusted to play your part in delivering the advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions of tomorrow, shaping a safer future, for all of us.

From the depths of the ocean, to the far reaches of space, there’s no limit to where a career at BAE Systems could take you.

Job Description:

The primary focus of the role will be to work with the Supply Chain and Quality Function to advance and lead a highly capable supplier development and quality team across Warship Support and Products aligned to corporate, sector, business and cross functional requirements and activities. It forms part of a significant step-change in supply chain capability, contributing to the delivery of the functional and line of business integrated business plans. The role requires close cooperation with a wide range of stakeholders across multi-functions and disciplines including Customers and external Suppliers and Partners.

Core Duties:

• Work with the Head of Strategic Supply Chain Management and Head of Quality to help build a multi-functional supplier development and quality capability – process, people, tools aligned to Supply Chain, Quality and business goals and that interfaces and aligns with the other respective supplier facing teams for example the manufacturing and engineering function

• Responsible for leading Supplier Quality Assurance projects / programmes on behalf of Supply Chain and cross functionally using extensive knowledge and experience to support or conduct Quality activities

• Lead proactive supplier capability assessments to evaluate the application of quality tools, manufacturing capabilities, material management and lean maturity and put in place plans to support any improvements as well as work with the wider team to develop a proactive and robust supplier capability, improvement and quality programme, working collaboratively with the supplier managers to drive operational excellence

• Undertake supplier quality assurance and control activities, including but not limited to; verification, audits, non-conformances and first article inspections

• Oversee the governance and assurance of Supplier Quality performance across the team ensuring compliance of internal and customer Quality requirements and ensure compliance to the Quality management formal review framework

• Lead supplier quality and performance improvement interventions, leveraging best practice techniques, across the wider sector and suppliers to minimise risk and deliver business improvement

Essential Skills:

• You will have extensive knowledge, application and training of Quality certification and regulatory standards and be able to educate team members (ISO, AS, AQAP etc.)

• You will have extensive knowledge and application of Quality Assurance and Quality Inspection (where applicable) end to end processes

• You understand and cascade the importance of cross functional integration across the Business Unit to achieve overall goals of the Quality and Supply Chain function’s ensuring alignment across the Business sector where applicable

• You will have a good understanding of continuous improvement tools and techniques and their practical application

• You will be experienced in the development and implementation of supplier performance management and development tool sets

The Supplier Development and Quality team:

You will join the Strategic Supply Chain Management team which is building our future capabilities across Business Winning, Cost Management, Supplier Relationship Management and Supplier Development and Quality. You will lead a cross-functional effort to help strengthen supplier capability, delivery and resilience.

The role will provide you with fantastic opportunities to support project delivery, covering all products, manufacturing areas and sites.

Why BAE Systems?

Here you’ll build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities. With lifelong learning and meaningful work, this is a place where you can grow your career with confidence and be empowered to be your best. You’ll be recognised for your contribution and enjoy rewards tailored to what’s most important to you and your family, support for your financial and personal wellbeing, as well as a balanced lifestyle. In an environment embracing sustainable ways of working and with a strong sense of shared purpose, our supportive culture is a place you can feel you belong and proud of the difference you make.

A place where everyone can thrive:

We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We know that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences strengthens our teams and is vital to the work we do.

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: 22nd October 2026

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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