Indirect procurement Lead

Here at The Exploration Company, we are building innovative aerospace technologies that advance the future of space transportation.

Role Overview

We are looking for a Lead Indirect Procurement to lead the procurement of equipment, facilities and services supporting The Exploration Company’s operations and growth. You will own the company’s indirect procurement and CAPEX strategy, ensuring teams have the infrastructure and services they need, when they need them.

You will prioritize investments supporting Nyx Earth delivery while enabling Storm, engine development and other approved company activities.

Reports to: Head of Procurement

Key Responsibilities

Supplier and Contract Management

• Identify, evaluate and develop suppliers across CAPEX and indirect purchasing categories.

• Lead negotiations covering pricing, delivery, acceptance criteria, warranties and service commitments.

• Manage supplier performance and resolve commercial or delivery issues.

• Develop sourcing strategies that balance capability, total cost, lead times and supply risk.

Procurement Operations

• Own procurement activities from requirements definition and RFQs through contract execution and supplier follow-up.

• Work with internal stakeholders to define clear specifications, scopes of work and acceptance criteria before placing orders.

• Coordinate with Finance on budgets, purchasing approvals and payment milestones.

• Ensure procurement records, contracts and commitments comply with company policies and applicable requirements.

Strategic Leadership

• Build a company-wide sourcing plan for equipment, tools, facilities and indirect services.

• Consolidate requirements across teams and locations where this improves cost, service or delivery.

• Evaluate total cost of ownership and identify opportunities to standardize purchases.

• Prioritize competing requests against approved budgets and company milestones, with Nyx Earth delivery taking precedence.

Team Leadership and Collaboration

• Lead and develop the indirect procurement team, including the Senior CAPEX Procurement Manager.

• Set clear objectives, delegate decisions and monitor delivery against agreed priorities.

• Work closely with Production /AIT, Operations, Facilities, IT, HR and Finance.

• Resolve issues within delegated authority and escalate material risks with a clear recommendation.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business Administration or a related field, or equivalent experience.

• Significant procurement experience in aerospace, manufacturing or another technical environment.

• Demonstrated experience managing CAPEX and indirect procurement, including complex equipment or service contracts.

• Experience leading procurement professionals and managing competing stakeholder requirements.

• Practical experience with ERP systems and procurement controls.

Skills

• Strong negotiation, contract management and stakeholder communication skills.

• Ability to evaluate investment proposals and total cost of ownership.

• Sound commercial judgment and disciplined budget management.

• Ability to translate operational needs into clear supplier commitments.

• A management approach that develops autonomy and ensures timely escalation.

Why this role?

• Help deliver Nyx Earth and develop the capabilities behind TEC’s future vehicles and engines.

• Take ownership of a procurement function with a direct impact on company milestones.

• Lead and develop a team in a collaborative, international engineering environment.

Why you should join us!

What makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is:  

• We’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind 

• We’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them  

• We have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge?  

We'd love to hear from you if you wish to be a part of our journey. Please submit your CV now for immediate consideration and we will be in touch shortly. 
 
The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable.  

All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which will be subject to the country, role, and project you applied for. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree that any offer of employment may be conditional upon successful condition of this check. The Exploration Company partners with Zinc Work Limited located in the UK (Zinc), a third-party provider, to ensure this process as efficient and transparent as possible.
If applicable, you will receive an email from Zinc upon acceptance of your offer with a link to a secure portal where you can provide the required information to Zinc.