Group Supply Chain Manager

Role Summary

Our client are based in the West Midlands and looking for an experienced Group Supply Chain Manager to oversee and manage the day-to-day operations of our supply chain activities across their business. This role is central to optimising our procurement, logistics, and inventory management processes to support our client’s growth and customer demands. The Group Supply Chain Manager will work closely with teams across engineering, manufacturing, logistics, and senior leadership to ensure efficient and cost-effective supply chain operations.

In this role, you will be responsible for developing and executing supply chain strategies, optimising inventory levels, ensuring timely deliveries, and managing supplier relationships. You will also lead and mentor a team of supply chain professionals, driving improvements, managing risks, and ensuring alignment with our client’s overall business goals.

Key Responsibilities

• End-to-End Supply Chain Management: Oversee the entire supply chain process, including procurement, production, inventory management, logistics, and distribution, ensuring smooth and efficient operations across all business units.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Develop strong relationships with suppliers, negotiate contracts, manage performance, and ensure timely delivery of high-quality components for product manufacturing.
• Inventory & Demand Management: Monitor and optimise inventory levels to meet production schedules and customer demands, ensuring a balance between cost control and product availability.
• Logistics & Distribution Coordination: Manage the logistics function, ensuring timely and cost-effective delivery of products to customers, including coordinating warehousing, transportation, and handling any supply chain disruptions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with engineering, manufacturing, and product teams to ensure that supply chain activities are aligned with product development schedules and customer requirements.
• Risk Mitigation: Identify potential supply chain risks (e.g., supplier delays, material shortages, logistics issues) and develop strategies to mitigate them, ensuring minimal disruption to operations.
• Process Improvement: Lead continuous improvement initiatives within the supply chain, using data and performance metrics to drive efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance operational effectiveness.
• Sustainability: Champion sustainability initiatives within the supply chain, ensuring the ethical sourcing of materials and reducing environmental impact where possible.
• Team Leadership: Manage and mentor a team of supply chain professionals, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous development.
• Reporting & Analysis: Provide regular reports to senior management on supply chain performance, key metrics, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.

Experience and qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in supply chain management, with a proven track record of managing multiple aspects of the supply chain (procurement, logistics, inventory, etc.).
• Solid understanding of supply chain operations, with experience in managing suppliers, logistics, and inventory across multiple regions.
• Previous exposure to working in a start-up or scale-up environment where processes can change and still require development
• Experience with ERP systems and supply chain software, with strong data analysis and reporting skills.
• Experience in the security, technology, or manufacturing sectors is a plus, with an understanding of the unique challenges in these industries.
• Strong negotiation skills, with the ability to manage supplier relationships and resolve issues effectively.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to prioritise, manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the ability to use data to drive decision-making and process
• improvements.
• Financial acumen, with experience managing supply chain budgets, cost control, and reporting.

Personal Attributes:

• Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach to problem-solving and operational execution.
• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and able to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactive and solutions-driven, with a focus on continuous improvement and process optimisation.
• Strong communicator, with the ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels.
• Team-oriented, with a leadership style that promotes collaboration, accountability, and professional development.
• Pragmatic problem solver with a focus on finding practical, effective solutions to challenges. You approach issues logically, considering all angles and available resources to make informed, actionable decisions.
• Adaptable and resilient, able to manage challenges and navigate change effectively.