Supply Chain Planning Director
26 days ago
Birmingham
Role Overview \n The Supply Chain Director will lead the end-to-end supply chain function across planning, procurement, materials management, logistics, warehousing and customer delivery. \n 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. \n Key Responsibilities: \n\n • Develop and execute the end-to-end supply chain strategy in alignment with the company's commercial and operational objectives.\n, • Lead demand planning, supply planning, production planning, procurement, inventory, warehousing and logistics.\n, • Translate customer demand and sales forecasts into robust material, capacity and production plans.\n, • Own and develop the S&OP/IBP process, ensuring effective alignment between Sales, Operations, Finance, Procurement and Supply Chain.\n, • Improve forecast accuracy, schedule adherence, material availability and on-time customer delivery.\n, • Develop strategic supplier relationships and lead sourcing, negotiation, contracting and supplier-development activity.\n, • Strengthen supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery, lead time, innovation and risk.\n, • Identify and mitigate supply-chain risks, including material shortages, capacity constraints, supplier failure and geopolitical disruption.\n, • Optimise inventory levels, stock turns and working capital while protecting production continuity and customer service.\n, • Lead logistics, warehousing and distribution activity, improving service, efficiency and cost performance.\n, • Establish clear supply-chain KPIs, reporting and governance, using data to identify issues and drive corrective action.\n, • Improve ERP, MRP and planning processes, ensuring accurate master data and disciplined system utilisation.\n, • Lead supply-chain transformation and continuous-improvement programmes using Lean and structured problem-solving techniques.\n, • Build, develop and retain a high-performing supply-chain team with clear accountability and succession plans.\n, • Work closely with Engineering, Quality and Operations to support new product introduction, product changes and manufacturing transfers.\n, • Contribute to business strategy, budgeting, investment decisions and wider operational performance as a member of the leadership team.\n\n Experience and Qualifications: \n\n • Significant senior leadership experience within supply chain, ideally gained in a complex manufacturing or engineering environment.\n, • Proven responsibility for multiple supply-chain disciplines, including planning, procurement, inventory and logistics.\n, • Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, MRP, capacity planning and S&OP/IBP.\n, • Demonstrable success improving customer delivery, supplier performance, inventory, working capital and operating cost.\n, • Experience leading organisational change, systems improvement and supply-chain transformation.\n, • Strong commercial, analytical and financial capability, with experience managing budgets and negotiating high-value agreements.\n, • Confident working with ERP and planning systems; SAP or equivalent experience would be advantageous.\n, • Degree or equivalent experience in supply chain, engineering, business or a related discipline.\n, • CIPS, ASCM/APICS or another relevant professional qualification would be desirable.\n\n Leadership Profile: \n 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. \n 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. \n Key Measures of Success: \n\n • On-time delivery and customer service\n, • Forecast accuracy and production-plan adherence\n, • Material availability and supplier delivery performance\n, • Inventory value, stock turns and working capital\n, • Procurement savings and cost avoidance\n, • Logistics and warehousing costs\n, • Supply-chain risk reduction\n, • Team capability and employee engagement\n\n