We are recruiting a Supply Chain Manager to lead and manage all supply chain, procurement, inventory, and material planning activities to ensure the timely availability of materials and services required to support business operations.
They will be responsible for developing and maintaining an efficient, resilient, and cost-effective supply chain that supports customer requirements, production schedules, inventory control, and future business growth.
The role acts as the key link between Procurement, Planning, Production, Suppliers, and Customers, ensuring material flow is aligned with operational demand while maintaining appropriate inventory levels and supplier performance.
The Supply Chain Manager is accountable for supplier performance, material availability, inventory management, purchasing effectiveness, and overall supply chain performance across the business.
Main Tasks and Responsibilities
Supply Chain Strategy & Management
- Develop and implement supply chain strategies that support current and future business requirements.
- Ensure material availability aligns with production demand and customer delivery commitments.
- Lead supply chain planning activities to support forecast growth and operational scalability.
- Identify and manage supply chain risks, implementing mitigation plans where required.
- Develop supply chain processes to improve efficiency, resilience, and cost performance.
- Support business continuity planning relating to supplier and material risks.
- Monitor market conditions and supply chain trends to identify opportunities and emerging risks.
Procurement & Supplier Management
- Manage all purchasing activities and supplier relationships.
- Lead supplier selection, onboarding, performance evaluation, and development activities.
- Negotiate commercial agreements, pricing, lead times, and supply terms.
- Conduct supplier performance reviews and implement corrective actions where necessary.
- Ensure effective communication of demand forecasts and order requirements to suppliers.
- Develop strategic supplier partnerships to improve service, quality, cost, and reliability.
- Monitor supplier compliance with contractual and quality requirements.
Material Planning & Availability
- Work closely with Planning and Operations to ensure materials are available to support production schedules.
- Review demand forecasts and convert requirements into effective purchasing plans.
- Manage material shortages and coordinate recovery plans with suppliers and internal
stakeholders. - Ensure material priorities are aligned with customer and operational requirements.
- Support production scheduling through effective supply chain coordination.
- Provide visibility of material risks that may impact delivery commitments.
Inventory Management
- Develop inventory strategies that balance service levels, cash flow, and operational
requirements. - Monitor stock levels and drive improvements in inventory accuracy.
- Manage slow-moving and obsolete inventory.
- Support cycle counting and inventory audit activities.
- Establish inventory controls and governance processes.
- Drive continuous improvement in inventory management and material flow.
Planning & Operational Collaboration
- Work closely with Production Planning to ensure demand and supply plans remain aligned.
- Participate in operational planning meetings and production reviews.
- Support capacity planning through supplier and material availability analysis.
- Coordinate supply chain support for new product introductions and engineering changes.
- Ensure planning assumptions accurately reflect supply chain realities.
Commercial & Cost Management
- Deliver purchasing savings and cost reduction initiatives.
- Monitor commodity, supplier, and freight costs.
- Support budget development and cost control activities.
- Identify opportunities to improve value without compromising quality or service.
- Support commercial reviews and contract negotiations.
- Manage procurement expenditure in accordance with company policies.
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, support, and develop Purchasing and Supply Chain personnel.
- Ensure effective workload management and role coverage within the supply chain function.
- Develop team capability through coaching, training, and succession planning.
- Promote accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
- Support recruitment and onboarding activities where required.
Continuous Improvement
- Identify opportunities to improve procurement, inventory, supplier management, and
supply chain processes. - Support digitalisation, automation, and ERP system improvement initiatives.
- Drive improvements in supplier performance and material flow.
- Reduce supply-related disruption through robust planning and management practices.
- Promote Lean principles and waste reduction throughout the supply chain.
Additional Responsibilities
- Support customer visits, supplier audits, and business reviews.
- Participate in internal and external audits as required.
- Represent Supply Chain in cross-functional improvement projects.
- Support business growth initiatives and operational transformation activities.
- Maintain awareness of market trends, supplier risks, and emerging technologies.
- Undertake any other reasonable duties required to support business objectives.
Background and Experience
- Experience working in a manufacturing or production-led environment, typically 5+ years.
- Demonstrated experience managing and rescheduling supplier orders to respond to changing demand.
- Strong analytical, planning, organisational, research, and negotiation skills, with the ability
to balance competing priorities. - Proactive and dependable, with the confidence to take initiative in a fast-paced, changedriven environment.
- Confident user of Microsoft Office applications (particularly Excel, Outlook, and Teams) and
- experience working with Epicor would be an advantage or any ERP similar planning and
scheduling system
Please note: This statement provides a general overview of the primary responsibilities of the role. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties and tasks. Responsibilities may evolve in response to changing business needs.