Supply Chain Leader: Supplier Performance & Team Excellence

Chess Dynamics; Horsham; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid / flexible working arrangements

28 days annual leave

Group pension plan

Wellbeing initiatives

Gym membership discounts

Job summary

Chess Dynamics in Horsham, United Kingdom, seeks a Supply Chain Team Leader to lead a Buyers team and drive the supply chain strategy across IPTs. You will translate strategy into SMART objectives, push for cost, quality, and delivery improvements, and foster strong supplier relationships to sustain supply and programme delivery.

The role requires proven leadership in procurement within manufacturing or engineering, with data-driven decision making and a focus on continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading procurement or supply chain teams.
• Experience delivering supplier performance improvements.
• Strong understanding of SP strategy, inventory management & working capital.
• Ability to manage cross-functional IPTs and governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead & develop a team of Buyers to deliver the Supply Chain vision, strategy, policies, processes, & procedures, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Translate the Supply Chain strategy into clear, measurable SMART objectives, driving individual & team accountability for achieving functional & business KPIs.
• Deliver improvements in supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery, & working capital, supporting operational excellence & business growth.
• Build & maintain effective supplier & cross-functional relationships to ensure continuity of supply, resolve issues, & support programme delivery.
• Proactively identify, manage, & mitigate supply chain risks, escalating issues where appropriate & implementing effective recovery plans.
• Resolve day‑time operational issues using a quality-focused, data‑driven approach, communicating impacts, risks, & resolution plans to key stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Provide effective leadership, coaching, mentoring, & development to direct reports, fostering a high‑performing, engaged team focused on continuous improvement & value creation.
• Manage individual & team performance through regular objective setting, performance reviews, feedback, & development planning, addressing performance issues where required.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance supply chain efficiency, resilience, compliance, & overall business performance.
• Ensure all procurement & supply chain activities are conducted in accordance with company policies, governance requirements, regulatory standards, & ethical sourcing practices.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, & continuous improvement across the Supply Chain function & Integrated Portfolio Teams (IPTs). KPIs
• Annual cost savings achieved
• Supplier on‑time delivery performance
• Supplier quality metrics
• Contract compliance
• Supply continuity & risk mitigation
• Supplier performance & continuous improvement
• Inventory optimization

Skills

Leadership

Strategic sourcing

Supplier performance

Stakeholder management

Data-driven decision making

ERP systems

Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain or related field

Tools

SAP

ERP systems

Job description

Chess Dynamics in Horsham, United Kingdom, seeks a Supply Chain Team Leader to lead a Buyers team and drive the supply chain strategy across IPTs. You will translate strategy into SMART objectives, push for cost, quality, and delivery improvements, and foster strong supplier relationships to sustain supply and programme delivery.

The role requires proven leadership in procurement within manufacturing or engineering, with data-driven decision making and a focus on continuous improvement.