Supply Chain Manager

Harper Fox Partners; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Harper Fox Partners is seeking a Supply Chain Manager based in Derby to lead the end-to-end supply chain across three manufacturing sites. This on-site role focuses on procurement, planning, inventory and supplier performance to support operational excellence and growth.

You'll collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Quality and Commercial teams, coach the supply chain team, and drive continuous improvements, cost reduction and risk management in a highly regulated engineering environment.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience within Supply Chain, Procurement or Materials Management in a manufacturing, engineering or industrial environment.
• Strong knowledge of purchasing, planning, inventory management and supplier development.
• Experience working within automotive or other highly regulated manufacturing sectors would be advantageous.
• A track record of driving supply chain improvements, cost reduction and operational efficiency.
• Strong commercial awareness with excellent negotiation and supplier management skills.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems to manage planning and procurement activities.
• Excellent stakeholder management, leadership and communication skills.
• CIPS qualification (or working towards) would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead the supply chain strategy across three manufacturing sites.
• Manage procurement, production planning, inventory control and logistics activities.
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure quality, cost and delivery performance.
• Drive supplier performance improvements through KPI management and regular reviews.
• Optimise inventory levels to balance customer demand with working capital objectives.
• Identify and implement supply chain process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
• Manage supplier negotiations, contracts and sourcing strategies.
• Collaborate closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality and Commercial teams to support production and customer requirements.
• Lead, coaching and developing the Supply Chain team to deliver high performance.
• Monitor market trends, supplier risks and material availability to ensure business continuity.

Skills

Leadership

Procurement

Planning

Inventory mgmt

Supplier mgmt

ERP/MRP

Negotiation

Stakeholder mgmt

CIPS

Education

CIPS qualification in progress

Tools

ERP/MRP

Job description

Supply Chain Manager based in Derby (On-site)

Competitive salary + comprehensive benefits package

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a highly respected engineering and manufacturing business with a long-standing reputation for quality, innovation and operational excellence. Operating across automotive, aerospace, defence, motorsport, nuclear, energy and industrial markets, the organisation continues to invest in its people, facilities and future growth. They are looking to appoint an experienced Supply Chain Manager to play a key role within the senior leadership team.

Reporting directly to the Plant Director, you'll lead the Supply Chain function across three manufacturing sites, managing procurement, planning, inventory and supplier performance while ensuring materials are delivered to support operational excellence, customer satisfaction and business growth.

This is a highly visible leadership role where you'll have the opportunity to influence business strategy, optimise supply chain performance and drive continuous improvement across the organisation.

What you’ll be doing:

• Leading the supply chain strategy across three manufacturing sites
• Managing procurement, production planning, inventory control and logistics activities
• Developing and maintaining strong supplier relationships to ensure quality, cost and delivery performance
• Driving supplier performance improvements through KPI management and regular reviews
• Optimising inventory levels to balance customer demand with working capital objectives
• Identifying and implementing supply chain process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce costs
• Managing supplier negotiations, contracts and sourcing strategies
• Collaborating closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality and Commercial teams to support production and customer requirements
• Leading, coaching and developing the Supply Chain team to deliver high performance
• Monitoring market trends, supplier risks and material availability to ensure business continuity

What we’re looking for:

• Proven leadership experience within Supply Chain, Procurement or Materials Management in a manufacturing, engineering or industrial environment
• Strong knowledge of purchasing, planning, inventory management and supplier development
• Experience working within automotive or other highly regulated manufacturing sectors would be advantageous
• A track record of driving supply chain improvements, cost reduction and operational efficiency
• Strong commercial awareness with excellent negotiation and supplier management skills
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems to manage planning and procurement activities
• Excellent stakeholder management, leadership and communication skills
• CIPS qualification (or working towards) would be advantageous

Why apply?

This is more than just a Supply Chain leadership role—it's an opportunity to shape the supply chain strategy for a growing, forward-thinking manufacturing business. You'll enjoy genuine autonomy, work alongside an experienced leadership team, and have the opportunity to deliver meaningful improvements across procurement, planning and supplier performance while supporting ambitious business growth.

Ready to take the next step in your career?