Aerospace Supplier Turnaround Lead

Quest Global

Wolverhampton

On-site

GBP 70,000 - 90,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Quest Global is seeking a Supplier Recovery Lead to restore performance across aerospace suppliers. The role requires hands-on operations leadership, deep technical knowledge, and the ability to drive rapid improvements.

Expect significant travel to supplier sites and collaboration with executive leadership to meet contractual delivery commitments. The ideal candidate will have 7+ years in aerospace manufacturing or related fields, strong communication skills, and proven experience in supplier

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Operations, or related discipline (or equivalent experience).
7+ years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, supplier development, operations, supply chain, or production leadership.
Proven experience leading supplier recovery, operational turnaround, or manufacturing improvement initiatives.
Strong understanding of aerospace manufacturing processes including machining, fabrication, assembly, composites, or special processes.
Experience working with ERP/MRP systems such as SAP or Oracle.
Demonstrated ability to influence executive-level supplier stakeholders without direct authority.
Strong analytical, organisational, and project management skills.
Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end supplier recovery engagements for suppliers experiencing delivery, capacity, quality, or operational performance issues.
Perform on-site operational assessments to identify manufacturing bottlenecks, material shortages, scheduling issues, and capacity constraints.
Develop comprehensive supplier recovery plans with clear actions, ownership, milestones, and measurable performance objectives.
Drive execution of recovery plans through daily management, regular progress reviews, and executive-level governance.
Partner with supplier leadership to improve production planning, scheduling, inventory management, workforce utilisation, and manufacturing flow.
Lead structured root cause analysis using methodologies such as 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone, and FMEA.
Monitor supplier performance using On-Time Delivery, Past Due Orders, Capacity Utilisation, Yield, Cycle Time, and OEE.
Coordinate with Procurement, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Program Management to align recovery priorities and resolve constraints.
Support supplier readiness for production ramp-ups, engineering changes, and new product introductions.
Facilitate daily supplier performance reviews and weekly executive business reviews.
Identify long-term continuous improvement opportunities using Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles.
Document recovery progress, risks, and executive summaries for senior leadership.