Head of Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Quality in Didcot

Location: Harwell, Oxfordshire

Reporting to: Manufacturing Site Manager

Salary: Competitive salary

Working arrangements: Hybrid working (onsite min 50%), 40 Hours per week, occasional national and international travel required.

Are you experienced in procurement, supply chain & supplier quality within a highly regulated manufacturing environment? Apply now to build the supplier partnerships that take medical-device innovation from development to global commercialisation.

Amber Therapeutics are developing a closed-loop neuromodulation therapy able to treat mixed urinary incontinence for the first time and transform the clinical outcome of a large untreated patient population. We are looking for a Head of Strategic Sourcing and Supplier Quality to lead sourcing strategy, commercial supplier relationships and supplier quality. Based in Harwell, Oxfordshire, you will help build a resilient, scalable supply chain that supports research, development and commercial growth—without compromising product quality, patient safety or regulatory compliance. This full-time position has flexibility for hybrid working with the requirement for an onsite presence 50% of the week.

This is an exciting opportunity to combine strategic procurement leadership with hands-on delivery. Working closely with Engineering, Quality, Operations, Finance and R&D, you will shape critical supplier partnerships, negotiate commercial and quality agreements, and drive improvements in cost, quality and continuity of supply.

What you’ll do

• Define and deliver Amber’s sourcing and supplier strategy, aligning supplier capabilities with development, scale-up and commercial demand.
• Lead supplier selection, due diligence and contract negotiations, securing long-term value and robust commercial and quality agreements.
• Own supplier performance monitoring and improvement, including scorecards, supplier corrective action requests and cross-functional issue resolution.
• Lead cost-of-goods reduction programmes while protecting quality, compliance and continuity of supply.
• Work with R&D and Engineering to qualify suppliers for new products and components, with future manufacturing scale in mind.
• Reduce supply-chain risk through second sourcing, business-continuity planning and component obsolescence management.
• Oversee procurement, stock availability and international logistics, supporting reliable supply into the EU, US and other markets.
• Maintain audit-ready departmental processes and supplier quality practices that meet ISO 13485 requirements.

What you’ll bring

• A degree, professional qualification or equivalent practical experience in procurement, supply chain or a related discipline.
• Strong knowledge of supplier commercial management, contract negotiation and lifecycle management, and total-cost assessment.
• A sound understanding of cost-of-goods analysis and sustainable cost reduction.
• Working knowledge of supplier quality within a regulated quality management system, including qualification, quality agreements, non-conformances and corrective actions.
• An understanding of supplier risk, business continuity and second-source strategies.
• The ability to turn commercial, quality and supplier-performance data into clear decisions and practical improvement plans.
• Strong negotiation, communication and cross-functional leadership skills, alongside the ability to coach and develop a direct report.

It would also be valuable to bring: experience in medical devices, life sciences or a similarly regulated sector; knowledge of ISO 13485; supplier onboarding for development and scale-up; delivery of cost-reduction or second-sourcing initiatives; and familiarity with electronic, electrical or electromechanical components and international supply chains.

Why this role?

You will have ownership across both commercial sourcing and supplier quality, with the opportunity to influence business planning and build supplier partnerships that support Amber’s growth. Your work will connect development decisions with long-term supply resilience, operational scalability and product quality.

What We Offer

This is a chance to be part of a ground-breaking team creating life-changing therapies for millions of people globally. You join us at an exciting phase of our development, as we expand the team and accelerate towards our first Pivotal Trial. In addition, we offer a competitive salary commensurate with experience, private healthcare, income protection, life assurance, company pension scheme, equity scheme and 27 days holiday (plus bank holidays).

Amber Therapeutics is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We look forward to hearing from you. Please apply now to join us with your CV and covering letter.