Supply Chain & Procurement Lead

Universal Quantum Ltd.; Haywards Heath; Sur place; GBP 120 000 - 180 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Equity participation

Flexible holidays

Flexible working

Pension 10% match

Health/dental insurance

Personal development budget

Relocation support

Résumé du poste

Universal Quantum is seeking a senior supply chain leader to design and run a global supply chain for high‑complexity quantum hardware. You will own critical supplier relationships, negotiate contracts, and build procurement processes with governance and speed.

Working alongside engineering, finance and legal, you’ll translate technical and regulatory constraints into executable supply decisions while enabling rapid delivery and scale across international markets.

Qualifications

• Must thrive in fast-paced, high-ambiguity settings with rapid decision cycles.
• 5+ years in supply chain, procurement, or operations in hardware/deep tech/aerospace or similar.
• Proven experience designing and operating global supply chains.
• Strong hands-on supplier negotiation and vendor management of critical suppliers.
• Experience building and running procurement processes, policies and approvals.
• Familiar with international shipping, customs, and trade compliance; export controls exposure a plus.

Responsabilités

• Design and run a global supply chain for highly complex quantum hardware.
• Own critical supplier relationships and negotiations for long-lead components.
• Build and operate day-to-day procurement processes, approvals, onboarding and exception handling.
• Identify and manage supply chain risk and resolve issues impacting progress or milestones.
• Select, implement and operate fit-for-purpose tools and systems; prioritize clarity and speed.
• Oversee international logistics, shipments, documentation, customs, duties and tariffs.
• Collaborate with engineering, finance and legal to translate constraints into executable supply decisions.

Connaissances

Strategic designer & architect

Hands-on contributor

Commercially sharp problem-solver

Ambiguity navigation in dynamic enviro

5+ years in supply chain/procurement/运

Global supply chain design & operation

Supplier negotiation & vendor mgmt

Procurement processes, policies, and框架

International shipping & trade compli

Cross-functional collaboration

Description du poste

At Universal Quantum, we are building the next generation of quantum computers - machines capable of solving problems once thought impossible. Our technology has the potential to transform industries from healthcare to aerospace, materials science, and beyond. As we scale from breakthrough R&D to global delivery, resilient execution becomes as critical as technical innovation.

What You’ll Accomplish

• Design and actively run a global supply chain supporting the delivery of highly complex quantum hardware.
• Personally own critical supplier relationships and negotiations, particularly for long-lead, high-risk, or strategically important components.
• Build and operate procurement processes day to day, including approvals, vendor onboarding, and exception handling, while laying the groundwork for future scale. This could extend all the way to inventory management at the beginning.
• Identify and manage supply chain risk hands-on, stepping in directly to resolve issues that could impact engineering progress or delivery milestones.
• Select, implement, and operate fit-for-purpose tools and systems, prioritizing clarity and speed over over-engineering.
• Oversee international logistics in practice, including coordination of shipments, documentation, and compliance with customs, duties, and tariffs.
• Work embedded with engineering, finance, and legal, translating technical, commercial, and regulatory constraints into executable supply decisions.

Requirements

The 3 Most Critical Attributes We’ll Use to Compare Candidates:

• Strategic designer & architect - able to design & build scalable supply & procurement functions.
• Hands-on contributor - enjoys getting into the weeds as a "doer".
• Commercially sharp problem-solver - a confident negotiator who makes sound trade-offs under real delivery pressure.

Must-have Skills

• Experience working in fast-paced, highly dynamic environments with high ambiguity (e.g. building the plane as it takes off!)
• 5+ years’ experience in supply chain, procurement, or operations within hardware, deep tech, aerospace, or similarly complex sectors.
• Proven experience in both designing and operating global supply chains.
• Strong, hands-on supplier negotiation and vendor management experience with business-critical suppliers.
• Experience building and running procurement processes, policies, and approval frameworks.
• Familiarity with international shipping, customs, duties, and trade compliance (direct export control experience a plus; ability to manage external specialists essential).
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills.

Nice-to-have Skills

• Experience in highly regulated or government-adjacent environments.
• Previous exposure to software SCM, its risk management, and understanding of open source licenses
• Direct experience with export control or ITAR-style constraints.
• Prior experience selecting and implementing procurement or supply chain systems.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Meaningful equity participation
• Flexible holiday allowance (28 days minimum)
• Flexible working
• 10% matching pension
• Generous parental support policy
• Private health / dental insurance & group life insurance
• £2,000 annual personal development budget
• Relocation support

We are committed to nurturing diversity and inclusion

At Universal Quantum, we're passionate about working with and for all kinds of minds. We are committed to building an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, and we hold ourselves accountable through continuous improvement, transparency, and the way we design our hiring and working practices. We welcome team members from all backgrounds and actively work to ensure everyone can flourish.