Supply Chain Lead

Orion Electrotech; Alton; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Orion Electrotech is seeking a Senior Buyer / Supply Chain Lead to own purchasing and lead warehouse, goods-in, inventory, and replenishment in a busy manufacturing operation.

You will work with Production, Engineering, Quality and Sales to meet customer demand while driving continuous improvement across the supply chain and taking on broader category management and leadership responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Experience as a Buyer/Senior Buyer in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong supplier management and purchasing experience.
• Experience managing purchase orders, supplier performance, and delivery schedules.
• Knowledge of inventory management and stock control principles.
• Experience supporting production and operational teams.
• Proven track record of resolving supply chain challenges and material shortages.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems for procurement and inventory management.

Responsibilities

• Manage supplier order books and purchasing activities across the business.
• Build and develop strong supplier relationships.
• Monitor supplier delivery, quality, and cost performance.
• Resolve material shortages and expedite critical components.
• Conduct supplier reviews and support supplier improvement plans.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks.
• Support sourcing and supplier rationalisation projects.
• Maintain accurate purchasing and supplier data within the ERP system.

Skills

Supplier management

Purchasing experience

ERP/MRP systems

Inventory control

Analytical skills

Leadership

Excel proficiency

Negotiation

Job description

Are you an experienced Senior Buyer looking for the opportunity to broaden your responsibilities and step into a Supply Chain leadership position?

We're seeking a commercially minded and operationally focused Senior Buyer / Supply Chain Lead to take ownership of purchasing activities while leading warehouse, goods-in, inventory, and material replenishment functions across a busy manufacturing operation.

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious procurement professional who wants to move beyond traditional purchasing and play a pivotal role in shaping supply chain performance, supplier relationships, inventory strategy, and operational excellence.

The Opportunity

As the Supply Chain Lead, you'll be responsible for ensuring the seamless flow of materials from suppliers through to production, balancing inventory levels, supplier performance, availability, and cost.

You'll work closely with Production, Engineering, Quality, and Sales teams to ensure customer demand is met while leading continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain.

This role offers genuine career development opportunities, including broader category management responsibilities and long-term leadership progression.

Key Responsibilities

Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Manage supplier order books and purchasing activities across the business
• Build and develop strong supplier relationships
• Monitor supplier delivery, quality, and cost performance
• Resolve material shortages and expedite critical components
• Conduct supplier reviews and support supplier improvement plans
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks
• Support sourcing and supplier rationalisation projects
• Maintain accurate purchasing and supplier data within the ERP system

Inventory Management

• Drive inventory accuracy and stock integrity
• Optimise stock levels to support production while reducing excess and obsolete inventory
• Lead cycle count activities and inventory investigations
• Monitor inventory KPIs and implement corrective actions
• Ensure accurate stock transactions and system compliance

Warehouse, Stores & Goods-In Leadership

• Lead day-to-day warehouse and goods-in operations
• Ensure materials are received, stored, and issued safely and accurately
• Oversee booking-in processes and inventory traceability
• Maintain high standards of warehouse organisation and housekeeping
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across warehouse operations

Production & Material Planning

• Ensure materials are available to meet production schedules
• Support MRP, Kanban, and replenishment processes
• Work closely with operational teams to resolve material availability issues
• Escalate and manage supply risks that could impact customer deliveries
• Improve material flow throughout the manufacturing operation

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Lead, coach, and develop warehouse and supply chain team members
• Allocate resources and set operational priorities
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement
• Support recruitment, training, and employee development activities
• Champion health, safety, and operational excellence across the department

What We’re Looking For

Essential Experience

• Previous experience as a Buyer, Senior Buyer, Procurement Specialist, Purchasing Engineer within a manufacturing environment
• Strong supplier management and purchasing experience
• Experience managing purchase orders, supplier performance, and delivery schedules
• Knowledge of inventory management and stock control principles
• Experience supporting production and operational teams
• Proven track record of resolving supply chain challenges and material shortages
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems for procurement and inventory management
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and drive decision-making

Essential Skills

• Excellent organisational and prioritisation abilities
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills
• Proactive problem-solving approach
• Commercial awareness and attention to detail
• Advanced Microsoft Excel capability
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment

INDENG