Supplier Performance Manager

Safran Helicopter Engines is the world's leading manufacturer of rotorcraft turbines and the only one dedicated exclusively to this market. Operating worldwide, it employs 6,100 people and has more than 2,500 customers in 155 countries, and 21,500 engines in service.

Supplier Performance Manager
Safran Helicopter Engines UK
Permanent | Full-Time | Onsite
Fareham
Travel within the UK and France Required

About the Role

Reporting to the Purchasing & Procurement Department, the Supplier Performance Manager is responsible for driving supplier performance, capability, and continuous improvement across Safran Helicopter Engines UK's supply chain.

This role leads the Supplier Support Team, including Supplier Quality Engineers and Supplier Manufacturing Engineers, ensuring suppliers consistently meet quality, delivery, industrialisation, and business performance requirements.

Working closely with Purchasing, Procurement, Quality, Supplier Development, and Industrialisation teams, you will identify risks, assess supplier capability and capacity, and implement robust improvement plans to support operational performance and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier Performance Management
- Manage the performance of a portfolio of suppliers across quality, delivery, and industrialisation metrics.
- Monitor and improve supplier On-Time Delivery (OTD), Quality (PPM), and overall performance.
- Conduct regular supplier reviews and performance meetings.
- Lead supplier visits to assess capability, capacity, risk, and improvement opportunities.
- Develop and implement supplier recovery and improvement plans.
Identify and mitigate supply chain risks through structured action plans.
- Support supplier onboarding, qualification, and selection activities.
- Manage supplier industrial maturity and continuous improvement programmes.
- Assess supplier readiness to support current and future business requirements.

Team Leadership
- Lead and develop the Supplier Support Team.
- Foster a culture of engagement, learning, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Conduct performance reviews
- Support team competency development
- Communicate priorities and objectives effectively across the team.

Quality & Compliance
- Support supplier quality improvement activities.
- Ensure effective processing of PPAPs and FAIRs.
- Review supplier quality performance and establish improvement plans.
- Work closely with Supplier Quality teams regarding compliance and audit activities.
- Maintain a strong understanding of AS9100 requirements and supplier compliance expectations.
- Support supplier audit planning and risk management activities.

Reporting & Stakeholder Management
- Prepare and present supplier performance reviews to management.
- Produce regular reports covering supplier visits, risks, OTD, PPM, action plans, and mitigation activities.
- Collaborate with internal functions including Purchasing,
- Procurement, Quality, Engineering, and Operations.
- Build relationships across the Safran Group to share best practice and standardise supplier performance methodologies.
- Align activities with Safran corporate processes, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives.

What you will receive:
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, with extra days at key service milestones (5, 10, 20, 30, 40 years)
- Flexitime with the chance to finish early on Fridays (role dependent)
- Onsite amenities: free parking, canteen with subsidised lunch, barista coffee, bike storage, and showers
- 7% company pension contribution from day one
- Health Cash Plan after probation
- Enhanced family friendly benefits (maternity, paternity), and employee assistance programme
- Share purchase scheme after three months' service
- Up to 5% annual bonus
- Company sick pay
- Access to a benefits portal: life assurance, cycle to work, retail discounts, healthcare, wellbeing, lifestyle benefits and more
- Green Travel Scheme: earn points for sustainable commuting, redeemable for Amazon vouchers
- Development opportunities through Safran University and internal training
- Salary sacrifice schemes, including Cycle to Work and Octopus EV (after probation)
- Involvement in sustainability, charity, volunteering, and networks including Diversity@Safran, Women@Safran, and our Men's Health Network

Essential Skills & Experience
- Proven experience in Supplier Performance, Supplier Development, Supplier Quality, Procurement, or Supply Chain Management.
- Leadership experience managing technical or operational teams.
- Experience within aerospace, aviation, automotive, or another highly regulated manufacturing industry.
- Strong supplier relationship and supplier performance management experience.
- Experience leading supplier improvement and recovery plans.
- Knowledge of manufacturing and industrialisation processes.
- Ability to assess supplier capability, capacity, and operational risk.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Experience managing KPIs including OTD, PPM, and supply chain performance metrics.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills.
- Strong reporting and presentation skills.

Desirable Qualifications & Experience
- Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Business, or a related discipline.
- Aerospace manufacturing experience.
- AS9100 knowledge and audit experience.
- Experience with PPAP, FAIR, APQP, and industrialisation processes.
- Aero Excellence assessment experience.
- Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement qualifications.
- Supplier Quality Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering background.