Head of Supply Chain and Operations

SF Partners are recruiting for a leading Manufacturer in Staffordshire who are looking to recruit a Head of Supply Chain and Operations. This role is a great opportunity for an experienced Supply Chain professional to join a value led organisation and to sit within the SLT.

Working pattern: site based Monday to Friday 9am-5.30pm
Salary: up to £50,000 + bonus

The Senior Supply Chain & Operations Manager is a key member of the leadership team, overseeing the effective delivery of international supply and operational activities across multiple global manufacturing locations. The role is responsible for ensuring products are produced, inspected, stored, and distributed efficiently, maintaining high standards of accuracy, cost control, and on-time delivery throughout the supply chain process.

The position spans manufacturing coordination, quality assurance, logistics, warehousing, and distribution, while working collaboratively with senior leadership to support operational performance and long-term business objectives.

Within a rapidly expanding SME environment, the role initially requires a hands-on approach leading a small team, with flexibility to travel internationally at short notice and undertake extended overseas visits during peak operational periods. As the organisation continues to scale, the position will evolve into leading and developing a larger operational team aligned with business growth.

Responsibilities will include:


Production Execution & OTIF Management

- Manage and monitor all production schedules from order placement through to shipment, ensuring adherence to the target sea-based OTIF line of 112 days and total OTIFD of 162 days.
- Maintain weekly production tracking with all vendors, escalating risk areas to the COO and Head of Vendor Strategy & Planning.
- Collaborate closely with vendors and factory partners to ensure proactive resolution of potential delays or capacity issues.

Quality Assurance & Inspection

- Oversee QA activities in line with the defined QA process (V1-V3 plus final pre-shipment 40-point inspection).
- Work with third-party inspection companies and in-country QA teams (e.g., Pakistan) to validate factory-reported progress and quality standards.

Logistics, Warehouse & Distribution

- Lead and manage the warehouse and logistics function to ensure goods are received, stored, and dispatched accurately and efficiently.
- Ensure all shipments follow the sea-based cost model unless airfreight is approved by the COO and CFO.
- Oversee warehouse performance on accuracy, timeliness, and housekeeping standards aligned with expectations.
- Manage allocation of inbound goods to customer orders, prioritising key customers and ensuring fairness and transparency

Inventory & Service-Level Management

- Lead visibility and decision-making on inventory requirements across all product categories, ensuring balance between availability, working capital, and warehouse capacity.
- Direct "stocking line" decisions in partnership with the COO and Head of Vendor Strategy & Planning, aligning purchasing and replenishment to sales trends and forecast accuracy.
- Monitor service-level performance, targeting a blended 75% same-day and 85% within-month fulfilment rate, and implement corrective actions when below threshold. - Provide regular reporting to the SLT on inventory health, aged stock, and service-level KPIs.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

- Monitor and report monthly on debit and credit notes, analysing root causes and agreeing remedial actions.
Provide structured performance reporting to the COO and SLT, highlighting trends, risks, and corrective measures.

Collaboration & Leadership

- Work in close partnership with the Head of Vendor Strategy & Planning to ensure end-to-end alignment between planning and execution.
- Contribute to SLT discussions on supply chain performance, resource planning, and continuous improvement.
- Promote a culture of accountability, operational discipline, and data integrity across all supply chain activities.