Supply Chain Manager

Concept Technical; Cannock; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading logistics company in Cannock is seeking an experienced Supply Chain Manager to oversee the flow of materials and information across the supply chain. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of supply chain processes, proactive leadership skills, and extensive experience in implementing process optimizations. This role offers a competitive salary between £60,000 and £65,000 and aims for continuous improvement in operations.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in supply chain or operations management roles.
• Proven track record of managing complex material flows in manufacturing environments.
• Strong knowledge of lean methodologies (JIT, Kanban).

Responsibilities

• Oversee and optimize supply chain operations from demand planning to delivery.
• Implement and lead Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes.
• Manage inbound and outbound logistics effectively.

Skills

Leadership

Process Optimization

Data Analysis

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain or related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Supply Chain Manager

Staffordshire

£60,000 - £65,000

The Supply Chain Manager plays a critical leadership role in driving the effective flow of materials and information across the supply chain—from customer demand through to on-time delivery to production. This role is responsible for overseeing and optimising all aspects of supply chain operations including demand planning, inventory management, warehousing, material kitting, and logistics to ensure that production is supported on time, every time.

The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of end-to-end supply chain processes, demonstrate proactive leadership, and foster a culture of operational excellence, continuous improvement, and collaboration across teams and with external partners.

Performance Targets

• Improve demand forecast accuracy and reduce order variances by 20% within 12 months
• Achieve 99% material availability to production at the point of use
• Reduce overall inventory holding by 25% within 12 months
• Cut material lead times by 20% via planning and logistics optimisation
• Increase warehouse and kitting efficiency by 25% within 12 months
• Improve team engagement and performance by 20% (based on EES Score)

Demand & Supply Planning

• Own and manage the demand signal from customer orders through to material availability for production.
• Collaborate with Planning and Sales teams to ensure accurate contract reviews and forecast alignment.
• Implement and lead Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process to balance supply with demand.
• Use data and analytics to anticipate material needs and minimize shortages or excess inventory.

Warehousing & Inventory Management

• Oversee warehousing operations ensuring safe, efficient, and organized storage of materials.
• Implement best-in-class inventory control processes (e.g., cycle counting, ABC analysis, FIFO).
• Ensure 100% material traceability and accountability throughout the Kitting & Material Presentation.
• Implement a robust kitting strategy to ensure materials are picked, staged, and delivered to production lines in a timely and accurate manner.
• Ensure kitting processes support takt time and production schedules with zero disruptions.
• Align kitting outputs with Just-In-Time (JIT) and lean manufacturing principles.

Procurement & Vendor Management

• Oversee supplier performance to ensure timely delivery of quality materials.
• Support vendor development, qualification, and regular performance reviews.
• Optimize supplier lead times and work collaboratively on VMI (Vendor Managed Inventory) or Kanban strategies.

Logistics & Material Flow

• Manage inbound and outbound logistics, ensuring cost-effective and timely transportation.
• Collaborate with production and planning teams to optimise the flow of materials and WIP.
• Introduce agile logistics practices to increase flexibility and responsiveness.

People & Leadership

• Develop and coach a high-performing supply chain team with clear performance and development goals (PDRs).
• Drive team engagement through regular communication, coaching, and recognition.
• Maintain an up-to-date skills matrix and succession plan.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

SQCDP (Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, People) Leadership

• Use the SQCDP framework to drive and measure performance across all areas of responsibility.
• Lead daily stand‑ups and structured team meetings to review progress and remove roadblocks.
• Lead root cause analysis and problem‑solving activities (Kaizen, A3s, 8Ds) to address issues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations Management, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in supply chain or operations management roles.
• Proven track record of managing complex material flows in manufacturing environments.
• Strong knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and lean methodologies (JIT, Kanban, 5S).
• Excellent leadership, analytical, and communication skills