Head of IT Category / Supply Chain Manager IT

Closing Date - 15th October 2025

NATS is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2.4 million flights each year. We provide air traffic control services from two control centres and at airports around the UK. We also provide a wide range of commercial products and solutions internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe. 

Job Purpose/Overview:

We are seeking a dynamic and commercially astute Head of IT Category to lead our category management, strategic sourcing and supplier management across the IT spend portfolio. 
This is a pivotal leadership role within our Indirect procurement function, responsible for shaping and delivering the IT procurement strategy that supports innovation, resilience, and value for money. 

NATS Supply Chain Team are award winning, holding CIPS Platinum accreditation the highest level awarded by the Chartered Institute for Procurement and Supply, and the first organisation globally assessed against the new ESG Advanced Standard. We have also received multiple industry awards for collaborative working and sustainability, with recognition at the ICW Collaboration Awards and CIPS Best Supplier Relationship Management Initiative. 

Our procurement professionals are actively involved in outreach and STEM engagement, and we maintain a robust supplier performance framework that supports our 2040 strategy and sustainability goals. 

Other duties Include: 

• Lead and prioritise team resources to deliver end to end supply chain activity and projects to time and budget in accordance with NATS’ governance, policy and process 
• Define, create, implement and review global, business wide Supply Chain IT category and commodity strategies, and lead on Project and / or bid specific supply chain activity 
• On-boarding of suppliers – assessing capability & resilience, and ensuring appropriate due diligence is maintained 
• Ensure that contractual relationships with suppliers are developed, managed and measured in accordance with Supply Chain’s SPRM framework, and that standards, controls and governance frameworks are in place. All contracts must be legally & ethically compliant. 
• Ensure category, contractual and project targets and objectives in terms of cost, delivery, quality and service are met 
• Build and develop strong collaborative internal and external relationships at all levels (in line with ISO 44001 standards), you will provide expert support and guidance, ensuring business requirements are understood, managed and fulfilled  
• Provide effective coaching, mentoring and leadership to team members 

Essential Skills and experience: 

• A Supply Chain & Procurement professional with extensive category and contract management experience 
• Qualified to Degree/MBA level with membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. CIPS) 
• Well versed in the application of best practice procurement processes and tools. 
• Excellent planning and organisational skills, including project management. 

Demonstrable knowledge and skill in: 

• £Multi-million complex contract negotiations  
• Leading cross-functional teams and projects 
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with proven ability of influencing at senior levels 
• Delivery of value improvement and specifically ‘bottom line’ savings 

Additional vacancy information:

We are proud to offer a fantastic total reward package to help you thrive both personally and professionally - for more information on what NATS can offer you please visit - Why NATS? 

We have adopted agile working to provide greater flexibility and increased choice over working arrangements, with the opportunity for this role to work in our modern office facilities as well as remotely. We also welcome discussions on flexible and part-time working arrangements. Find out more here. 

If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe – we would like to hear from you whatever your age, sex, race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, visible or invisible disability. Individuals that bring different perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds help us be at the forefront of our industry.