UK Supply Chain Director

Safran; England; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace company is recruiting a UK Supply Chain Director to oversee supply chain performance for their Actuation Systems business across two manufacturing sites. This senior role requires accountability for direct material spend, supplier performance, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Candidates should have senior leadership experience in aerospace or similarly regulated environments and be capable of negotiating with suppliers effectively. The position offers a challenging yet rewarding opportunity to lead a high-performing team in a key operational role.

Qualifications

• Experience in a similarly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Proven complex supplier networks management.
• Supplier negotiation experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end supply chain across two UK aerospace manufacturing sites.
• Own and execute the UK supply chain strategy.
• Accountability for direct material spend.
• Drive cost reduction and value engineering initiatives.
• Negotiate and manage strategic supplier agreements.
• Ensure continuity of supply and capacity assurance.
• Lead supplier performance across quality, cost and delivery.
• Ensure materials availability for production plans.
• Optimize S&OP, MRP effectiveness and working capital.
• Embed a continuous improvement culture.
• Lead structured improvement initiatives.
• Build and develop a high-performing supply chain team.

Skills

Senior supply chain leadership experience

Proven ownership of direct spend

Excellent commercial capability

Education

Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, or Business

Tools

Lean / Six Sigma

Job description

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.

Safran is in the 2nd place in the aerospace and defense industry in TIME magazine's "World's best companies 2024" ranking.

Safran Electronics & Defense offers its customers onboard intelligence solutions allowing them to understand the environment, reduce mental load and guarantee a trajectory, even in critical situations, in all environments: on land, at sea, in the sky or space. The company harnesses the expertise of its 13,000 employees towards these three functions: observe, decide and guide, for the civil and military markets.

What does the role look like?

We are recruiting a UK Supply Chain Director to lead end-to-end supply chain performance for our Actuation Systems business operating across two manufacturing sites (Wolverhampton & Banbury). This is a senior leadership role with full accountability for direct material spend, supplier performance, and supply chain resilience in a highly regulated environment. This role suits a commercially minded, solutions-driven leader who thrives on fixing problems, improving systems, and raising standards. You'll be well versed in creating high performing teams, supporting NPI & creating a proactive rather than reactive culture.

What will your day-to-day responsibilities look like?

• Leading the end-to-end supply chain across two UK aerospace manufacturing sites
• Owning and executing the UK supply chain strategy aligned to business and customer requirements
• Full accountability for all direct material spend, including raw materials and engineered components
• Driving cost reduction, value engineering, and total cost of ownership initiatives
• Negotiating and managing strategic supplier agreements
• Ensuring continuity of supply, capacity assurance, and supplier risk mitigation
• Leading supplier performance across OTIF, quality, cost, and delivery
• Ensuring materials availability to support production plans and programme commitments
• Improving S&OP, MRP effectiveness, inventory optimisation, and working capital performance
• Embedding a continuous improvement culture across procurement, planning, and logistics
• Leading structured improvement initiatives to eliminate root cause issues
• Building, developing, and holding accountable a high-performing, multi-site supply chain team

Essential skills

• Senior supply chain leadership experience within aerospace or a similarly regulated manufacturing environment
• Proven ownership of direct spend and complex supplier networks
• Excellent commercial capability with confident supplier negotiation experience

Desirable skills

• Track record of delivering cost, delivery, and supply resilience improvements
• Experience leading multi-site supply chain teams
• Comfortable operating at pace in a demanding, high-accountability environment
• Degree qualified (Engineering, Supply Chain, or Business)
• Lean / Six Sigma or equivalent continuous improvement experience
• Experience supporting NPI or programme ramp-ups