Supply Chain Planning Director

Role Overview

The Supply Chain Director will lead the end-to-end supply chain function across planning, procurement, materials management, logistics, warehousing and customer delivery.

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.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute the end-to-end supply chain strategy in alignment with the company's commercial and operational objectives.
• Lead demand planning, supply planning, production planning, procurement, inventory, warehousing and logistics.
• Translate customer demand and sales forecasts into robust material, capacity and production plans.
• Own and develop the S&OP/IBP process, ensuring effective alignment between Sales, Operations, Finance, Procurement and Supply Chain.
• Improve forecast accuracy, schedule adherence, material availability and on-time customer delivery.
• Develop strategic supplier relationships and lead sourcing, negotiation, contracting and supplier-development activity.
• Strengthen supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery, lead time, innovation and risk.
• Identify and mitigate supply-chain risks, including material shortages, capacity constraints, supplier failure and geopolitical disruption.
• Optimise inventory levels, stock turns and working capital while protecting production continuity and customer service.
• Lead logistics, warehousing and distribution activity, improving service, efficiency and cost performance.
• Establish clear supply-chain KPIs, reporting and governance, using data to identify issues and drive corrective action.
• Improve ERP, MRP and planning processes, ensuring accurate master data and disciplined system utilisation.
• Lead supply-chain transformation and continuous-improvement programmes using Lean and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Build, develop and retain a high-performing supply-chain team with clear accountability and succession plans.
• Work closely with Engineering, Quality and Operations to support new product introduction, product changes and manufacturing transfers.
• Contribute to business strategy, budgeting, investment decisions and wider operational performance as a member of the leadership team.

Experience and Qualifications:

• Significant senior leadership experience within supply chain, ideally gained in a complex manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Proven responsibility for multiple supply-chain disciplines, including planning, procurement, inventory and logistics.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, MRP, capacity planning and S&OP/IBP.
• Demonstrable success improving customer delivery, supplier performance, inventory, working capital and operating cost.
• Experience leading organisational change, systems improvement and supply-chain transformation.
• Strong commercial, analytical and financial capability, with experience managing budgets and negotiating high-value agreements.
• Confident working with ERP and planning systems; SAP or equivalent experience would be advantageous.
• Degree or equivalent experience in supply chain, engineering, business or a related discipline.
• CIPS, ASCM/APICS or another relevant professional qualification would be desirable.

Leadership Profile:

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.

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.

Key Measures of Success:

• On-time delivery and customer service
• Forecast accuracy and production-plan adherence
• Material availability and supplier delivery performance
• Inventory value, stock turns and working capital
• Procurement savings and cost avoidance
• Logistics and warehousing costs
• Supply-chain risk reduction
• Team capability and employee engagement