Supply Chain Lead

Addition; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Bonus opportunities

Health plan

Career development

Holiday buy/sell

Job summary

Addition in the United Kingdom is seeking an experienced Supply Chain Lead to own supplier performance, procurement strategy and operational effectiveness across complex defence programmes. You will shape demand forecasting, sourcing and scheduling while protecting commercial interests.

In a highly regulated environment you will build strong supplier relationships, lead negotiations, review proposals and monitor risk across pricing, quality and delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience in supply chain or procurement within Defence or complex programmes.
• Experience with NEC3/NEC4 contracts within construction.
• Strong negotiation and supplier-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior supply chain support across programmes aligned to requirements.
• Identify and evaluate suitable suppliers for goods and services.
• Lead negotiation and tendering strategies for best value and delivery.
• Manage supplier performance across pricing, quality, delivery and risk.
• Build collaborative supplier relationships and monitor risks.
• Support demand forecasting, procurement planning and scheduling.
• Manage subcontract negotiations and performance.
• Review proposals and contribute to commercial submissions.
• Track supplier performance metrics and identify improvement opportunities.

Skills

Supply chain management

Procurement

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Demand forecasting

Supplier performance

Risk management

Contract management

Job description

Travel: Approximately 10%

We’re partnering with a leading organisation operating across complex Defence and mission-critical programmes to appoint an experienced Supply Chain Lead.

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded supply chain professional to take ownership of supplier performance, procurement strategy and operational effectiveness across highly complex programmes.

You’ll play a key role in developing and maintaining a sustainable, high-performing supply chain, working closely with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to ensure customer requirements are met while protecting the commercial and financial interests of the business.

The Opportunity

As Supply Chain Lead, you’ll provide senior supply chain support across a range of programmes, helping to shape procurement strategy, optimise spend and strengthen supplier performance.

You’ll be responsible for identifying suitable suppliers, leading negotiations and tendering activity, managing commercial relationships and ensuring risks across the supply chain are proactively identified and addressed.

This is a broad, hands-on role covering areas including demand forecasting, material sourcing, purchase order management, scheduling, inventory control and supplier performance.

You’ll work within a complex, highly regulated environment supporting programmes where quality, delivery, cost and operational resilience are critical.

Key Responsibilities

You’ll play a key role in ensuring effective supply chain delivery by:

• Providing senior supply chain support across programmes, aligned to business and customer requirements.
• Identifying and evaluating suitable suppliers for programme goods and services.
• Leading negotiation and tendering strategies to secure best value and reliable delivery.
• Managing supplier performance across pricing, quality, availability, delivery and risk.
• Building and maintaining strong, collaborative supplier relationships.
• Monitoring supply chain risks, including obsolescence, availability and delivery issues.
• Escalating and resolving supplier concerns where required.
• Supporting demand forecasting, procurement planning, material sourcing and scheduling.
• Managing subcontract negotiations and supporting effective subcontract performance.
• Reviewing and contributing to proposals and commercial submissions.
• Tracking key supplier performance measures and identifying opportunities to improve supply chain effectiveness.

About You

You’ll have strong experience operating within a supply chain or procurement environment, with the commercial awareness and stakeholder-management skills required to work effectively across complex programmes.

You will also have:

• Experience working within a supply chain or procurement function.
• Experience working with NEC3 and/or NEC4 contracts within construction.
• Demonstrable experience in subcontract negotiation and management.
• Experience reviewing and contributing to proposals.
• Strong supplier and stakeholder relationship-management skills.
• A good understanding of supply chain operations and opportunities for efficiency improvement.
• Knowledge of contract and subcontract law.
• Strong negotiation, problem-solving and commercial decision-making skills.

Experience within Defence, engineering or other complex project environments would be highly advantageous.

We welcome applications from candidates who may not meet every preferred requirement but can demonstrate strong transferable experience and the potential to succeed in the role.

Security Clearance

Due to the nature of the work, applicants must be UK nationals and must be able to gain and maintain SC-level UK Government security clearance.

Why Apply?

This is a fantastic opportunity to take on a key supply chain position supporting complex, high-profile programmes where your work will directly influence commercial performance, supplier resilience and successful delivery.

In return, you’ll benefit from:

• Salary of £47,400 – £58,000
• Flexible and hybrid working options.
• Optional compressed fortnight working.
• Cash health plan.
• Holiday buy and sell scheme.
• Performance-related bonus opportunities.
• Structured career-development programmes.
• Access to mentoring and professional-development opportunities.
• The opportunity to work across complex, mission-critical programmes within a highly collaborative environment.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

By applying you are confirming you are happy to be added to the Addition Solutions mailing list regarding future suitable positions. You can opt out of this at any time simply by contacting one of our consultants.