Strategic Buyer - Industrialisation

Our Mission

At Vertical Aerospace, we are pioneering the way for electric aviation. The VX4, 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 of having the VX4 in service by 2030.

What to expect

As we progress towards building prototypes of our revolutionary eVTOL aircraft, we are seeking a Strategic Buyer to lead the procurement of infrastructure-related goods and services that will support our early-stage industrialisation strategy. This role will focus on non-capital procurement during the development phase, with increasing scope as we move towards production ramp-up.

What you'll do

• Prototype & Development Support: Procure tools and equipment to enable prototype builds, including extensive sourcing of jigs, fixtures, and bespoke test tools required for structural, systems, and integration testing.

• Battery Manufacturing Engagement: Collaborate closely with the Battery Manufacturing Engineers to source materials, equipment, and services for lithium-ion battery pre-production and prepare the supply base for industrial-scale production.

• Sourcing Strategy: Identify and onboard suppliers capable of supporting short- and long-term industrialisation goals, including pilot line setup and readiness activities.

• Cross-functional Engagement: Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Facilities, and Programme teams to understand build requirements and translate them into effective sourcing strategies.

• Ramp-Up Planning: Help develop scalable supply strategies and commercial arrangements that enable readiness for future production volumes, including early pilot lines, automation, bespoke and novel equipment as well as industrial test cells.

• Supplier Management: Develop global supplier relationships to ensure readiness, flexibility, and scalability as we approach production ramp-up.

• Process Development: Help define the procurement processes, policies, and data structures that will scale with the business as it transitions from development to commercial production.

• Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including capacity, technical compliance, and delivery constraints during scale-up.

What you'll bring

• Experience in infrastructure or industrial procurement within an early-stage manufacturing or development programme (e.g. aerospace, automotive, defence, or high-tech hardware).

• Familiarity with new product introduction (NPI), build-to-print environments, or pilot line sourcing strategies.

• Ability to manage procurement across a complex and dynamic stakeholder landscape with evolving requirements.

• Strong project planning, ERP system use, and commercial negotiation skills.

• CIPS qualification or equivalent preferred.

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.