Senior Supply Chain Manager

ZipRecruiter; England; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the Beauty, Cosmetics & Personal Care industry is seeking a Senior Supply Chain Manager based in Greater London. This role involves overseeing and optimizing supply chain operations, managing a team, and ensuring alignment with strategic objectives. The company offers a competitive salary and a hybrid working model to promote work-life balance.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in supply chain management.
• Professional certifications such as APICS CPIM/CSCP or Six Sigma are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end supply chain operations, including strategic planning.
• Lead preparation of Annual Operating Plan and manage supplier relationships.
• Ensure seamless cross-functional collaboration for inventory management.

Skills

Analytical skills

Forecasting skills

Communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Logistics

Master’s degree (plus)

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Supply Chain Manager

Location: Greater London, Hybrid - 2 days a week in the office

Salary: Up to £75,000 DOE

Industry: Beauty, Cosmetics & Personal Care

Employment: Full-Time, Permanent

About the Role:

We are seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Supply Chain Manager to oversee and optimize our clients end-to-end supply chain operations. This includes strategic planning across forecasting, procurement, inventory management, inbound logistics, and supplier relations. The successful candidate will play a critical role in financial planning, product lifecycle management, and driving continuous improvement across the supply chain. This position reports to senior leadership and manages a team of three direct reports.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Financial Planning (AOP & LE):

• Lead the preparation and delivery of Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and Latest Estimate (LE) files, ensuring accuracy and timeliness
• Contribute to financial planning through budget cycles and scenario analysis.
• Develop and present inventory and stock coverage forecasts to inform AOP and LE submissions
• Forecast Freight-In and Duty costs based on historical and market data.
• Prepare standard cost of goods (COG) roll-ups, reflecting product cost fluctuations.
• Manage and update obsolescence and waste provisions, including item-level analysis of aged, discontinued, QC stock and supplier liabilities.

Inventory Management & Product Lifecycle:

• Facilitate monthly Objectives Meetings to monitor KPIs and progress toward supply chain goals; flag key risks and escalate issues as needed.
• Oversee Manufacturing Forecast Capacity (MFC) analysis to align production needs with demand.
• Lead quarterly product discontinuation reviews, ensuring alignment with Sales and Operations on exit strategies.
• Maintain and optimize warehouse space through detailed pallet and logistics flow planning.

Demand Planning Oversight:

• Provide strategic leadership and governance over the demand planning process, ensuring alignment with operational capabilities and business objectives.
• Partner with Demand Planning, Sales, Marketing, and Finance teams to validate key forecast assumptions.
• Review and challenge demand forecasts, identifying risks and opportunities across key categories and customers.
• Actively contribute to the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process by supporting consensus-building and addressing supply-demand imbalances.

Change Management:

• Maintain high-level oversight of key changes including new product launches, supplier transitions, redesigns, and major listings that may affect inventory levels.
• Ensure seamless cross-functional collaboration to prepare for and implement upcoming changes.

Supplier Relationship Management:

• Own and manage relationships with suppliers, including regular performance reviews, issue resolution, price negotiation, and process improvement initiatives.
• Oversee supplier onboarding and manage supplier data within the Supplier Bible, ensuring accurate tracking of KPIs and liabilities.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Logistics, or a related field (Master’s degree is a plus).
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in supply chain management, including responsibilities for strategic planning, supplier oversight, and cost management.
• Professional certifications such as APICS CPIM/CSCP, CIPS, or Six Sigma are highly desirable.

Key Skills:

• Strong analytical and forecasting skills, with proficiency in Excel and ERP systems.
• Proven experience in financial operations, including budget planning and inventory/freight forecasting.
• Solid understanding of international freight, customs duties, and warehouse planning.
• Expertise in managing waste and obsolescence reduction strategies.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management capabilities