Supply Chain Manager

Stratus Recruitment; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a Logistics & Supply Chain Manager for their commercial furniture client in Essex. The role involves managing procurement, freight forwarding, and project execution to ensure timely delivery of projects. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in supply chain management, strong vendor negotiation skills, and a grasp of logistics in the contract furniture sector.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years experience in supply chain/logistics/project management, preferably in contract furniture.
• Strong understanding of procurement strategy and international freight forwarding.
• Proficiency in project management tools.

Responsibilities

• Source and procure materials and goods internationally.
• Manage international freight and logistics relationships.
• Coordinate project timelines and delivery schedules.

Skills

Vendor negotiation

Logistical precision

Project coordination

Education

Project Management certification

Experience in supply chain/logistics/project management

Tools

Sage

Zoho

Job description

Based from our commerical furniture suppliers office in Essex. This role combines team leadership across procurement, freight forwarding, and end-to-end project execution within the contract furniture sector. The Logistics & Supply Chain Manager will orchestrate the seamless movement of goods from sourcing materials and managing global shipments from China to delivering furniture to the warehouse in Brentwood, while ensuring every client project runs on time, on budget, and to specification.

The ideal candidate brings operational excellence, vendor negotiation skills, logistical precision, and project coordination expertise to a design-forward, deadline-driven environment.

Key responsibilities

Procurement Management

• Source and procure raw materials, furniture components, and finished goods globally
• Negotiate and manage supplier agreements to optimize value and quality
• Oversee procurement budgets and forecasting in collaboration with design and project teams
• Conduct supplier audits and monitor compliance with sustainability and quality standards

Freight Forwarding & Logistics Coordination

• Manage international freight and 3PL relationships (air, sea, and ground)
• Coordinate import/export schedules, customs documentation, and regulatory compliance
• Track real-time shipment status and provide updates to internal stakeholders
• Optimize freight strategies to balance speed, cost, and reliability

Project Management

• Identify and select suppliers based on the project requirements
• Negotiate terms, prices, and delivery dates with suppliers
• Processing accurate quotations and costs for furniture proposals.
• Review tenders and specifications and produce quotations and orders
• Prepare and manage procurement budget in accordance to specification from the ASM
• Co-ordinate production dates with suppliers in accordance to project timeline to ensure timely delivery
• Coordinate with Logistics provider as to when deliveries will be collected and delivered ensuring various projects are consolidated at all times
• Ensure adherence to procurement policies, procedures and use systems effectively
• Resolve warranty claims, grievances, and claims against suppliers
• Review, compare, analyse, and approve products and services to be purchased whilst managing and maintaining relationship with suppliers
• Prepare reports on procurement and usage of goods for project management

• Coordinate with sales, logistics, and delivery teams to ensure projects are delivered on time and in full
• Maintain procurement data accuracy within ERP systems, including item master details, supplier lead times, MOQ, and certification
• Evaluate and manage suppliers based on part-level performance metrics: defect rates, delivery accuracy, cost stability, and compliance with sustainability and regulatory requirements
• Develop contingency sourcing strategies for critical-path components to mitigate risk of delays or disruptions
• Ensure transparent communication between component suppliers and freight forwarders to align shipping requirements and avoid production bottlenecks

Supply Chain Optimisation & Reporting

• Monitor supply chain KPIs (lead time, freight cost, delivery accuracy, etc.)
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives to streamline workflows and reduce errors
• Collaborate with finance and operations teams for budget alignment and cost controls
• Maintain ERP data integrity and use analytics to support planning decisions

Qualifications

Project Management certification (e.g., PRINCE2, PMP) is a strong plus

Minimum 5 years experience in supply chain/logistics/project management, preferably in contract furniture, interiors, or manufacturing

Experience

• Deep understanding of procurement strategy and international freight forwarding
• Proficiency in project management and supply chain tools (e.g., Sage, Zoho

Should you be interested in the role please send your CV and will will send you the full spec.