Supply Chain Planning Director

SF Partners; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

SF Partners in Birmingham seeks a Supply Chain Director to lead end-to-end supply chain across planning, procurement, materials, warehousing and delivery. You’ll align supply chain strategy with business growth, manufacturing performance and customer service, ensuring the right materials, capacity and supplier base to meet production while optimising inventory and working capital.

You will build a high-performing team, drive S&OP/IBP, improve forecast accuracy and lead transformation initiatives

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in supply chain within a complex manufacturing/engineering environment.
• Proven responsibility for multiple supply-chain disciplines: planning, procurement, inventory and logistics.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, MRP, capacity planning and S&OP/IBP.
• Demonstrable success improving delivery, supplier performance, inventory and costs.
• Experience leading organisational change, systems improvement and supply-chain transformation.
• Strong commercial, analytical and financial capability with budgeting experience.
• Confident working with ERP and planning systems; SAP or equivalent experience is advantageous.
• Degree or equivalent in supply chain, engineering, business or related discipline.
• CIPS, ASCM/APICS or another relevant professional qualification desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement end-to-end supply chain strategy aligned with commercial objectives.
• Lead demand planning, supply planning, production planning, procurement, inventory, warehousing and logistics.
• Translate customer demand and forecasts into material, capacity and production plans.
• Own and develop S&OP/IBP process with cross-functional alignment.
• Improve forecast accuracy, schedule adherence, material availability and on-time delivery.
• Strengthen supplier relationships and lead sourcing, contracting and supplier development.
• Improve supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery and risk.
• Identify and mitigate supply-chain risks including shortages and disruption.
• Optimize inventory levels, stock turns and working capital.
• Lead logistics, warehousing and distribution to improve service and cost.
• Establish supply-chain KPIs, reporting and governance with data-driven action.
• Enhance ERP, MRP and planning processes with disciplined data.
• Lead supply-chain transformation and Lean-driven improvements.
• Build and retain a high-performing supply-chain team with clear accountability.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality and Operations on new product introductions and changes.
• Contribute to budgeting and wider operational performance as a leadership-team member.

Skills

Senior leadership

Demand & supply planning

S&OP/IBP

Procurement & logistics

ERP planning systems

Budgeting & finance

Change management

Lean/continuous improvement

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Degree or equivalent in supply chain/engineering/business

Tools

SAP or equivalent

ERP systems

MS Excel

Job description

Role Overview

The Supply Chain Director will lead the end-to-end supply chain function across planning, procurement, materials management, logistics, warehousing and customer delivery.

Operating as a key member of the senior leadership team, the successful candidate will develop and deliver a supply chain strategy that supports business growth, manufacturing performance and excellent customer service. They will ensure the business has the right materials, capacity and supply-base capability to meet production requirements while optimising inventory, cost, quality and working capital.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the end-to-end supply chain strategy in alignment with the company's commercial and operational objectives.
• Lead demand planning, supply planning, production planning, procurement, inventory, warehousing and logistics.
• Translate customer demand and sales forecasts into robust material, capacity and production plans.
• Own and develop the S&OP/IBP process, ensuring effective alignment between Sales, Operations, Finance, Procurement and Supply Chain.
• Improve forecast accuracy, schedule adherence, material availability and on-time customer delivery.
• Develop strategic supplier relationships and lead sourcing, negotiation, contracting and supplier-development activity.
• Strengthen supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery, lead time, innovation and risk.
• Identify and mitigate supply-chain risks, including material shortages, capacity constraints, supplier failure and geopolitical disruption.
• Optimise inventory levels, stock turns and working capital while protecting production continuity and customer service.
• Lead logistics, warehousing and distribution activity, improving service, efficiency and cost performance.
• Establish clear supply-chain KPIs, reporting and governance, using data to identify issues and drive corrective action.
• Improve ERP, MRP and planning processes, ensuring accurate master data and disciplined system utilisation.
• Lead supply-chain transformation and continuous-improvement programmes using Lean and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Build, develop and retain a high-performing supply-chain team with clear accountability and succession plans.
• Work closely with Engineering, Quality and Operations to support new product introduction, product changes and manufacturing transfers.
• Contribute to business strategy, budgeting, investment decisions and wider operational performance as a member of the leadership team.

Experience and Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience within supply chain, ideally gained in a complex manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Proven responsibility for multiple supply-chain disciplines, including planning, procurement, inventory and logistics.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, MRP, capacity planning and S&OP/IBP.
• Demonstrable success improving customer delivery, supplier performance, inventory, working capital and operating cost.
• Experience leading organisational change, systems improvement and supply-chain transformation.
• Strong commercial, analytical and financial capability, with experience managing budgets and negotiating high-value agreements.
• Confident working with ERP and planning systems; SAP or equivalen e experience would be advantageous.
• Degree or equali ve experience in supply chain, engineering, business or a related discipline.
• CIPS, ASCM/APICS or another relevant professional qualification would be desirable.

Leadership Profile

The successful candidate will be a commercially focused and data-led leader who can combine strategic thinking with operational delivery. They will communicate effectively at board, customer and supplier level, challenge constructively and build strong cross-functional relationships.

They will demonstrate sound judgement, resilience and a continuous-improvement mindset, with the ability to bring structure, accountability and pace to a complex manufacturing supply chain.

Key Measures of Success

• On-time delivery and customer service
• Forecast accuracy and production-plan adherenceMaterial availability and supplier delivery performance
• Inventory value, stock turns and working capital
• Procurement savings and cost avoidance
• Logistics and warehousing costs
• Supply-chain risk reduction
• Team capability and employee engagement