Supply Chain Director in Colchester

Company Description: Brands Direct Ltd is a UK-based company with over 25 years of experience delivering innovative, high-quality products to the retail market. The business collaborates closely with manufacturing partners to bring first-to-market concepts in drinks, infant foods, and gluten-free ranges. Its philosophy is to build trusted, long-term relationships with retailers and manufacturers, focusing on profitable and sustainable category solutions from concept to shelf. Brands Direct offers comprehensive Category Management services to support partners across the full product lifecycle and has demonstrated strong compliance credentials, achieving an AA grade in a BRC Global Standards audit in 2018.

Role Description: The Supply Chain Director is a full-time, on-site role based in Braintree, Essex, responsible for overseeing end-to-end supply chain activities to support the company’s product ranges. We are looking for a commercially minded Supply Chain Director to lead end-to-end operational activities, ensuring the safe, efficient and cost-effective flow of goods from supplier through to customer. This role will be accountable for all operational functions, including production planning, inventory management, fulfilment, and helping drive the next phase of growth.

As a senior member of the Leadership Team, you will work collaboratively across the business to develop operational strategy, improve organisational capability and ensure the business has scalable operations that support both current performance and future growth.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Develop and execute the Group Operations strategy aligned with the Company's commercial and growth objectives.
• Take full accountability for all operational activities across procurement planning, inventory management, fulfilment and logistics.
• Ensure the business consistently delivers agreed customer service levels across all sales channels.
• Lead logistics operations planning processes to ensure effective forecasting, capacity planning and inventory optimisation.
• Provide effective leadership, coaching and development across the Logistics team, creating a culture of accountability, ownership and continuous improvement.
• Oversee the procurement of product and packaging, ensuring security of supply whilst delivering cost efficiencies.
• Develop supplier relationships and monitor supplier performance against agreed service, quality and cost targets.
• Manage the movement of inventory from Supply base through to dispatch, ensuring robust controls are in place to maintain inventory accuracy, minimise losses and optimise efficiency.
• Implement effective inventory management strategies, maintaining agreed stock availability.
• Ensure all customer orders are fulfilled accurately, efficiently and within agreed service level agreements.
• Manage logistics providers to deliver cost-effective, compliant and reliable transport services.
• Ensure commodity codes and shipping compliance are maintained where applicable.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across all operational functions, embedding best practice methodologies.
• Develop operational KPIs and reporting to provide clear performance visibility across the Logistics team.
• Promote cross-functional collaboration between Logistics, Sales and Finance to ensure alignment across the business.
• Be an active and influential member of the Leadership Team, contributing to wider business strategy and organisational development.

Qualifications:

• Candidates should possess strong skills in FMCG Supply Chain Management and Supply Chain Operations to oversee end-to-end processes and performance.
• Candidates should possess Production Planning skills to manage demand forecasting, capacity planning, and inventory control.
• Proven ability to develop and implement operational strategy.
• Candidates should possess Analytical Skills to interpret data, optimize costs and service levels, and support decision-making.
• Extensive experience in a senior supply chain or operations leadership role, ideally within FMCG, retail, or food and beverage sectors.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, manufacturing partners, and retail customers.
• Strong leadership, team management, and cross-functional collaboration capabilities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Relevant degree or professional qualification in supply chain, logistics, operations management, or a related field is preferred.

£: Attractive Circular Package

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

If you’re ready to lead operations at scale and make a visible impact, we’d love to hear from you. We look forward to reviewing your application and potentially welcoming you to our team.