Sourcing & Supplier Development Manager in Lewes

About Us

Ancient + Brave is a female founded, mission-driven wellness brand with an award-winning range of collagen, supplements and functional blends. Rooted in ancient wisdom and validated by science, our simple daily rituals support our community in nurturing whole body health. As a business, we are ambitious about our growth and disciplined in how we execute. In June 2024, we were named 5th in The Sunday Times 100 fastest-growing private companies and 4th in the Oresa retail growth index in 2025. We care deeply about the impact we have – on our customers, our community and the world around us. As well as a B Corp, we are a member of 1% for the Planet, contributing 1%+ of all revenue to environmental and social causes – putting people and the planet at the heart of all we do. As an equal‑opportunity employer we are committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace culture, where we are brave, connected and intentional – and lead with integrity in all we do.

The Role

As Sourcing & Supplier Development Manager you will have a significant role in how Ancient + Brave buys ingredients, packaging and finished goods, and how we work with component suppliers, co‑manufacturers and service providers. You will execute our sourcing strategy, formalise our supplier governance, and lead the supplier development programme that turns our partners into a genuine source of competitive advantage. Reporting to (and supported by) our Technical Director, you will work cross‑functionally with NPD, ESG, Quality, Operations, Finance, Nutrition and Innovation to deliver an ethical, sustainable supply chain worthy of one of the world’s highest‑scoring B Corp wellness brands; cost and margin performance that supports profitable international scale.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Help develop and execute our sourcing strategy across ingredients, primary and secondary packaging, and finished‑goods co‑manufacturing.
• Run formal supplier identification, qualification and onboarding, including market mapping, sample sourcing, technical and commercial evaluation, and approval against the Approved Supplier List.
• Lead our supplier development programme: scorecards, regular business reviews, joint improvement plans and continuous‑improvement projects covering quality, cost, service and sustainability.
• Build out our Supplier Governance (SG) framework and Supply Chain Guide – “Doing Business with Us”, “Developing Products with Us” and “Delivering Products to Us” – in partnership with the Technical Director and Quality lead.
• Set the standard for ethical and sustainable sourcing across the supply base, aligned with our B Corp, 1% for the Planet, Carbon Neutral and ESG Mark commitments.
• Own supplier requirements on chain of custody, vegan, organic and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) credentials, animal welfare, modern slavery and human rights.
• Lead the supplier elements of upcoming regulatory requirements including the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), Modern Slavery Statement, EU Green Claims and emerging packaging regulations (PPWR, EPR), in close partnership with Quality, Legal and the Packaging project leads.
• Drive material‑level improvements: traceability, lower‑impact ingredient and packaging alternatives, supplier carbon data, and reductions in waste.
• Own cost‑of‑goods (COGS) outcomes across the portfolio: lead negotiations, run tenders and structure agreements that protect margin while supporting our quality and sustainability standards.
• Identify supplier consolidation, value‑engineering and dual‑sourcing opportunities that improve resilience and unlock margin without compromising the brand.
• Be the go‑to sourcing partner for NPD and Science & Innovation, from early ideation through to launch.
• Work in collaboration with NPD on ingredient and supplier selection for new formulations, balancing efficacy, sustainability, regulatory profile, scalability and commercial viability.
• Manage manufacturing trials and pilot runs alongside the NPD Manager, and feed sourcing learnings back into specifications, the Product Bible and the wider supplier strategy.
• Support international expansion by identifying market‑appropriate suppliers and co‑manufacturers, particularly for our scale‑up across the EU and US.
• Work hand‑in‑hand with the Quality team to deliver the supplier elements of our Quality & Food Safety roadmap: Material Risk Assessments (MRAs), Supplier Self‑Assessment Questionnaires (SAQs/SSQs), risk‑based audit programmes and supplier surveillance testing.
• Co‑own the formal supplier and co‑manufacturer approval process, including re‑approval and ongoing performance monitoring against agreed KPIs.
• Support audits, organic and MSC re‑certification.

Who You Are

To be successful in this role, you will need the following skills / knowledge / experience:

• 3–5 years of progressive experience in sourcing, procurement or supplier development – ideally within wellness, supplements, food and drink, premium beauty or another regulated FMCG category.
• A proven track record of building supplier strategies and supplier development programmes from the ground up in a fast‑growing, scaling business.
• Strong technical understanding of ingredient and packaging supply chains; familiarity with multiple manufacturing formats (powders, capsules, tinctures, sachets) is highly desirable.
• Demonstrable experience embedding sustainability and ethical sourcing into commercial decisions – chain of custody, B Corp, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), organic, EUDR, modern slavery, fair trade etc.
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills, with hands‑on ownership of cost‑of‑goods (COGS), tenders, supplier contracts and total cost‑of‑ownership analysis.
• Working knowledge of supplier quality and food‑safety frameworks (SALSA, BRC, FSSC 22000, HACCP etc).
• Excellent project management, organisational and analytical skills – comfortable owning a portfolio of suppliers, projects and KPIs.
• Experience working closely with NPD, Quality and Operations teams to bring new products to market on time, on cost and on standard.

Company Values

• WE BELIEVE IN BRAVERY – We are: Courageous, Bold, Experimental.
• WE BELIEVE IN INTEGRITY – We are: Honest, Accountable, Ethical.
• WE BELIEVE IN CONNECTION – We are: Collaborative, Inclusive, Open.
• WE BELIEVE IN INTENTION – We are: Purposeful, Proactive, Focused.

Please Note

This role requires full time working at our stunning Lewes offices. Please apply only if you’re within a reasonable commute. We’re not seeking recruitment support for this role at this time.

Why Join Us

Ancient + Brave are a community‑built brand and embracing innovation and sustainability with social and environmental responsibility is at the heart of everything we do. We hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards when it comes to our commitment to balance profit and purpose – working with us means being part of building a truly sustainable product. We are B Corp certified and members of 1% for the Planet, committed to giving back % of all sales towards helping environmental partners, so we can work together towards a better future for our planet. At Ancient + Brave you’ll find an engaging, collaborative and inclusive work environment where your talents will be nurtured, and your contributions valued.