Head of Supply Chain Planning and Systems

Thales Group; Crawley; On-site; GBP 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Pension scheme

4 day week

28 days annual leave

Performance bonus

Car allowance

Life cover

Volunteer days

Job summary

Thales Group is seeking a Head of Planning and Logistics to lead strategy, governance, and performance across planning and logistics. You will champion professionalisation, drive S&OP, and ensure material and information flow from suppliers to customers with minimal disruption.

You will lead cross-functional teams, implement ERP-enabled planning, and drive continuous improvement across procurement, manufacturing, engineering, and projects.

Qualifications

• Senior planning or supply chain leadership within industrial/manufacturing environments.
• Experience in inventory optimization and flow management.
• Strong track record in ERP/MES implementation and improvement.
• End-to-end understanding of supply chain disciplines.
• Willingness to achieve APICS certification.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Planning function and governance aligning with operational and strategic objectives.
• Deliver robust S&OP processes and resilient supply plans.
• Oversee planning of materials and resources in support of operating plans.
• Drive MRP2 practices and ERP-enabled planning processes.
• Provide supply chain performance insights to inform decisions.
• Lead logistics operations and 3PL/4PL relationships as applicable.
• Manage inventory strategy and flows from receipt to despatch.
• Support production and repair units to meet delivery targets.
• Contribute to evolving supply chain capabilities including tools and processes.
• Embed Lean thinking to reduce lead times and WIP.

Skills

Multi-site supply chain

MRP2/ERP data-driven decisions

Lean & continuous improvement

Change leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

People development

Education

APICS certification (or willingness to achieve)

Tools

ERP systems

MES implementations

MRP2 governance

Job description

As Head of Planning and Logistics, you will lead the strategy, governance, and performance of planning and logistics activities, ensuring the seamless flow of materials, information, and resources from suppliers through to customers. You will champion the professionalisation of planning and logistics, driving best practice, continuous improvement, and capability development while empowering teams to operate with autonomy and accountability.,

• Lead the Planning function and associated governance, ensuring alignment with operational and strategic objectives
• Deliver robust Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), developing viable and resilient supply plans
• Oversee the planning of all materials and resources in support of company operating plans
• Drive the implementation and governance of MRP2 best practices and ERP-enabled planning processes
• Ensure effective supply chain analysis and performance insight to support decision‑making
• Lead and optimise logistics operations, including 3PL/4PL partner relationships where applicable
• Manage inventory strategy and flows, from goods receipt through to despatch
• Support production and repair units to meet delivery, capacity, and performance commitments
• Contribute to the strategic evolution of supply chain capabilities, including investment, tools, and processes
• Embed a culture of Lean thinking and continuous improvement, reducing lead times, WIP, and inventory
• Lead cross‑functional collaboration to ensure alignment across Procurement, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and Projects
• Ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks and business requirements across all logistics flows

You are a strategic, collaborative leader who brings both technical expertise and a passion for developing people and improving systems.

Skills and expertise

• Deep understanding of complex, multi‑site supply chain environments
• Expertise in MRP2, ERP systems, and data‑driven decision‑making
• Strong knowledge of planning, production, repair, and logistics flows
• Proven ability to lead teams through change and transformation
• Experience applying Lean principles and continuous improvement methodologies
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to translate strategic priorities into practical, deliverable outcomes

Experience

• Proven success in a senior planning or supply chain leadership role within an industrial or manufacturing environment
• Experience of inventory optimisation and flow management
• Strong track record in ERP/MES implementation and improvement
• Experience delivering change, transformation, and performance improvement initiatives
• End‑to‑end understanding of supply chain disciplines, APICS certification (or willingness to achieve)

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

Head of Planning and Logistics Together, we shape the world around us At Thales, we bring together brilliant people from around the world to design and deliver innovative solutions that make tomorrow possible across aerospace, defence, digital identity, and security. We are looking for a Head of Planning and Logistics to lead a critical function at the heart of our Industrial and Supply Chain operations. This is an opportunity to play a key leadership role in delivering operational excellence, enabling customer success, and shaping the future of our UK supply chain capability.

What we offer

• A role with real purpose and impact, supporting critical national and global programmes
• Opportunities to develop your career within a global organisation
• A collaborative, innovative environment where your ideas are valued C
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits
• Performance‑related bonus (grade dependent)
• Car cash allowance (grade dependent)
• 4 day week
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) with opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)
• 24 hours volunteering paid for
• Private healthcare
• Pension scheme
• Life cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts

Ready to help build a future we can all trust?

At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all.

The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role.

Read more about our benefits here.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring.

Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.