Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead M&A and strategic alliances to shape the future of supply chain at Castrol.
- Company: Join Castrol, a dynamic player in the energy sector with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus plans, flexible benefits, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a pivotal role during an exciting transition for Castrol.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in M&A and strategic partnerships within supply chain or manufacturing.
- Other info: Collaborative environment valuing diverse perspectives and strong execution.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
This role is accountable for creating sustainable value for Castrol by leading supply-chain-embedded M&A and strategic alliances, with a clear mandate to shape the future manufacturing footprint as the market transitions. The focus is on value creation through acquisitions, divestments, joint ventures, equity investments, and long-term partnerships across manufacturing, third-party production, and the broader supply ecosystem.
Operating at the intersection of supply chain, procurement, and enterprise strategy, you will originate, structure, negotiate, and manage transactions and alliances that deliver long-term competitive advantage, resilience, and cost competitiveness. You will have global accountability for supply-chain-related M&A and alliance activity, working in close partnership with bp M&A and enterprise governance teams.
In parallel, you will lead Castrol's global third-party manufacturing strategy, using partnerships, alliances, and investments as strategic levers to optimise the manufacturing footprint as the market evolves. Supported by a geographically distributed team, this role operates with high autonomy and visibility, engaging regularly with senior leadership across Castrol, bp, and external partners. The position plays a critical role in shaping Castrol's future supply chain as the business transitions its portfolio and manufacturing base in response to changing market and technology dynamics.
What You Will Deliver- Supply Chain M&A and Strategic Alliances Leadership
- Lead the development and execution of a global supply-chain M&A and strategic alliances strategy aligned with Castrol and Procurement priorities.
- Own and execute the full transaction lifecycle for supply-chain and manufacturing-related deals, including target identification, due diligence, valuation, negotiation, approval, and post-transaction integration, in partnership with bp M&A.
- Originate and deliver acquisitions, divestments, joint ventures, equity investments, and long-term strategic partnerships across the value chain.
- Build and deliver robust business cases for significant capital investments and transactions, generating measurable value and long-term competitive advantage.
- Manufacturing Footprint and Third-Party Manufacturing Strategy
- Lead the global third-party manufacturing strategy as a core value-creation lever, including network design, capacity strategy, and partner selection.
- Shape the future manufacturing footprint through partnerships and investment decisions that balance cost, resilience, sustainability, and scalability.
- Ensure third-party manufacturing arrangements meet Castrol's global quality, safety, and environmental standards.
- Develop and implement risk mitigation and business continuity strategies to strengthen supply resilience.
- Partnership Governance and Value Delivery
- Establish clear governance frameworks, performance metrics, and alliance management playbooks.
- Lead executive-level relationship management with strategic partners and C-suite counterparts.
- Track value realisation and ROI across alliances and transactions, ensuring delivery against strategic and financial objectives.
- Drive measurable improvements in cost competitiveness, capability, resilience, and market positioning.
- Cross-Functional and Executive Leadership
- Lead cross-functional teams through complex negotiations, integrations, and transformation initiatives.
- Partner closely with Legal, Finance, Procurement, Operations, Technology, and Commercial teams to structure compliant and balanced transactions.
- Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on supply-chain strategy, partnerships, and investment decisions relevant to M&A and strategic alliances.
- Internal Stakeholders
- Chief Procurement Officer and Procurement Leadership Team
- Supply Chain leadership and regional teams
- Legal, Finance, Operations, Technology, Commercial, Strategy, and bp M&A teams
- Regional and global business leadership
- External Stakeholders
- Strategic suppliers, manufacturers, and alliance partners
- Acquisition and investment targets
- Investment banks, advisors, consultants, and legal counsel
- Industry bodies, sustainability partners, and selected competitor organisations for collaboration
- Proven experience leading M&A, joint ventures, equity investments, or strategic partnerships within a supply chain, manufacturing, or industrial environment.
- Demonstrated ability to originate and lead transactions end-to-end, with accountability for due diligence, valuation, negotiation, approval, and post-transaction integration.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing and third-party production models, including contract manufacturing, packaging, or other manufacturing-intensive supply chains.
- Experience gained in FMCG, CPG, consumer goods, or adjacent manufacturing-led sectors is highly relevant, though candidates from other sectors are welcome where comparable scale, complexity, and deal leadership can be demonstrated.
- Ability to combine commercial deal leadership with practical operational insight, translating manufacturing and supply chain realities into sound investment and partnership decisions.
- Executive-level presence, with experience influencing senior leaders and operating effectively in complex, global, matrixed organisations.
- Strong people leadership capability, including experience building and leading high-performing, geographically distributed teams.
- Highly effective negotiator with strong commercial judgement and financial acumen, including valuation, business case development, and capital allocation.
- Solid understanding of governance, regulatory, and compliance requirements.
This role offers the opportunity to join Castrol at a significant point in its journey. bp has announced an agreement to sell a 65% shareholding in Castrol, with bp retaining a minority interest. This provides additional context for the business and the environment in which this role operates.
For this position, the focus is on delivering strong outcomes through disciplined strategy, effective collaboration, and execution within established governance frameworks. You will work closely with senior leaders across Castrol, bp, and external partners, contributing to supply chain strategy, partnerships, and manufacturing footprint decisions.
At bp and Castrol, we are committed to supporting leaders who want to make an impact. You will be part of an inclusive, collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are valued and where strong execution and thoughtful challenge are encouraged. We invest in the growth and wellbeing of our people, offering access to development opportunities, senior networks, and a competitive total rewards package including base pay, bonus, share plans, and flexible benefits. We recognise that people have multifaceted lives and aim to offer a career experience that reflects that.
Head of Supply Chain M&A and Strategic Alliances in Reading employer: bp Launchpad
Contact Detail:
bp Launchpad Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Supply Chain M&A and Strategic Alliances in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or attend relevant events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its recent projects. We want to show that you’re genuinely interested in their mission and how you can contribute to their success in supply chain M&A and strategic alliances.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role. We suggest highlighting your past successes in M&A and partnerships to demonstrate your value to potential employers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Supply Chain M&A and Strategic Alliances in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Supply Chain M&A and Strategic Alliances role. Highlight your relevant experience in M&A, strategic partnerships, and supply chain management. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
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. Share specific examples of your achievements in M&A and strategic alliances that demonstrate your ability to create value.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: This role requires strong leadership capabilities. In your application, emphasise your experience leading cross-functional teams and managing complex negotiations. We’re looking for someone who can influence and drive results at a senior level.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at bp Launchpad
✨Know Your M&A Fundamentals
Brush up on your mergers and acquisitions knowledge, especially in the context of supply chain and manufacturing. Be ready to discuss specific deals you've led or been involved in, highlighting your role in due diligence, valuation, and negotiation.
✨Showcase Strategic Thinking
Prepare to demonstrate your ability to think strategically about partnerships and alliances. Think of examples where you've shaped a manufacturing footprint or optimised a supply chain through innovative partnerships. This will show your potential employer that you can align with their goals.
✨Understand the Market Dynamics
Familiarise yourself with current trends in the supply chain and manufacturing sectors, particularly those affecting Castrol. Being able to discuss how market transitions impact strategic decisions will impress your interviewers and show you're proactive.
✨Engage with Executive Presence
Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently, as you'll be interacting with senior leadership. Use examples from your past experiences to illustrate your points, and don't shy away from discussing how you've influenced decision-making at a high level.
