At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage and develop supplier performance in a high-tech environment.
- Company: Join a leading aerospace and defence company with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, annual bonus, hybrid working, and generous pension contributions.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by improving supplier capabilities and ensuring quality delivery.
- Qualifications: Degree-level supply chain experience, preferably in aerospace or advanced manufacturing.
- Other info: Strong focus on training, development, and career progression opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 58000 £ per year.
An opportunity has arisen for an experienced Supplier Development Manager to join a high-performing Sub-Assemblies supply chain team, supporting a significant increase in production activity. This role is focused on improving supplier capability, performance and resilience across a complex, high-technology environment.
Location & Package
- Location: Stevenage
- Salary: Circa £50,000, depending on experience
- Hybrid working: Typically 2 days per week on-site
- Security: UK nationality required, with SC clearance
What's on offer
- Annual bonus linked to company performance
- Competitive pension contributions (up to 14% total)
- Paid overtime opportunities
- Up to 15 additional flexi-leave days
- Enhanced parental and family-related leave
- Excellent on-site facilities, including subsidised meals and free parking
- Strong focus on training, development and career progression
About the role
You will play a key role in managing and developing a portfolio of suppliers, ensuring delivery, quality and capacity targets are met while identifying and mitigating supply chain risk. Working across multiple programmes, you will support both established and emerging technologies in a fast-paced, evolving environment. Key responsibilities include supplier performance improvement, capacity and capability assessments, risk management, and supporting wider supply chain excellence initiatives.
What we’re looking for
- Degree-calibre supply chain professional or equivalent experience
- Background in aerospace, defence or advanced manufacturing environments
- Proven experience improving supplier delivery and quality using lean and continuous improvement tools
- Ability to conduct capacity audits, process mapping and lead time analysis
- Strong risk management skills, including escalation and mitigation planning
- Confident applying problem-solving methodologies such as DMAIC
- Experience producing clear analysis and executive-level summaries
- Comfortable managing multiple suppliers and reporting performance against programme requirements
Supplier Development Manager employer: Akkodis
Contact Detail:
Akkodis Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Supplier Development Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the aerospace and defence sectors. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can get you in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your supplier performance improvement strategies. We want you to showcase your experience with lean tools and risk management skills confidently!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to research the company culture! Understanding their focus on training and development will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re a great fit for their team.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Supplier Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Supplier Development Manager role. Highlight your experience in improving supplier performance and any relevant skills in lean and continuous improvement tools. We want to see how you can bring value to our high-performing team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention specific experiences that relate to managing suppliers and risk management, and don’t forget to show your enthusiasm for working with us at StudySmarter.
Showcase Relevant Experience: When filling out your application, make sure to showcase your background in aerospace, defence, or advanced manufacturing environments. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so let us know how your past experiences align with our needs.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep track of it. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Akkodis
✨Know Your Suppliers
Before the interview, research the suppliers you might be managing. Understand their strengths and weaknesses, and think about how you can improve their performance. This shows that you're proactive and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be prepared to discuss specific examples where you've used problem-solving methodologies like DMAIC. Highlight how these experiences have led to tangible improvements in supplier delivery and quality. This will demonstrate your capability in a high-tech environment.
✨Understand Risk Management
Familiarise yourself with risk management strategies relevant to supply chains. Be ready to discuss how you've identified and mitigated risks in past roles. This is crucial for the role, so showing your expertise here will set you apart.
✨Prepare for Capacity Audits
Brush up on your skills related to capacity audits and process mapping. Think of examples where you've conducted these assessments and how they impacted supplier performance. Being able to articulate this will show your depth of knowledge in the field.