At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team of Buyers to enhance supply chain performance and drive continuous improvement.
- Company: Established engineering organisation with a focus on innovation and teamwork.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join at a pivotal moment and influence key business outcomes.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in supply chain leadership and strong stakeholder management skills.
Supply Chain Team Leader
Location: West Sussex Salary: £50,000 - £55,000 Working pattern: Hybrid / flexible Sector: Engineering / Manufacturing
We’re working exclusively with a well-established engineering-led organisation to recruit a Supply Chain Team Leader to join their growing Supply Chain function.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced supply chain or procurement professional who is ready to take the next step in their leadership career, combining people leadership, supplier management, commercial delivery and continuous improvement.
You’ll play a key role in ensuring a resilient, high-performing supply chain, working closely with suppliers and internal teams across Operations, Engineering, Quality, Finance and Programme Management.
The Role
As Supply Chain Team Leader, you’ll lead a team of Buyers and help translate the wider supply chain strategy into measurable operational results.
You’ll be responsible for driving supplier performance, developing your team and ensuring the supply chain continues to support business, programme and financial objectives.
Key areas of responsibility will include
- Leading, coaching and developing a team of Buyers, creating a high-performing and accountable team culture.
- Setting clear objectives and KPIs aligned to wider business and supply chain goals.
- Driving supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery and service.
- Building strong relationships with key suppliers and internal stakeholders.
- Identifying and managing supply chain risks, implementing effective mitigation and recovery plans.
- Supporting continuity of supply across key programmes and operational requirements.
- Using data and performance information to identify issues, make decisions and drive improvement.
- Leading initiatives to improve supply chain efficiency, resilience and commercial performance.
- Supporting cost reduction, inventory optimisation and working capital improvements.
- Ensuring procurement and supply chain activity is carried out in line with appropriate governance, policies and regulatory requirements.
- Working collaboratively across cross-functional and integrated project teams to resolve issues and deliver business priorities.
- What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for someone with proven experience in a supply chain, procurement or purchasing leadership role, ideally within an engineering, manufacturing or similarly complex environment.
You’ll ideally bring
- Previous experience leading, coaching and developing a procurement or supply chain team.
- Strong knowledge of supplier performance management, strategic sourcing and supply chain principles.
- Experience managing suppliers across cost, quality and delivery.
- Strong commercial and financial awareness, including an understanding of inventory and working capital.
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- A structured, analytical and data-driven approach to problem solving.
- Experience managing competing priorities and delivering against measurable KPIs.
- A genuine focus on continuous improvement and operational excellence.
- Good working knowledge of ERP systems and strong Excel capability.
Desirable
- CIPS qualification, ideally Level 4 or above, or a relevant degree.
- Experience within engineering, manufacturing, defence or another highly regulated/technical environment.
- Experience of supplier risk management and/or sustainability.
- Experience working within integrated project or programme teams.
Why Consider This Opportunity?
This is a chance to join an established organisation at an important point in its development, taking ownership of supplier performance and team leadership within a complex supply chain environment.
You’ll have the opportunity to make a visible commercial and operational impact, develop a team and work closely with senior stakeholders across the wider business.
The role offers a competitive salary of £50,000-£55,000, alongside a comprehensive package and flexible working arrangements.
Interested?
If you’re an experienced Supply Chain, Procurement or Purchasing professional looking for a leadership role where you can genuinely influence performance, develop people and drive change, we’d be keen to hear from you.
Apply now or contact us for a confidential conversation about the opportunity.
Please note: due to the nature of the organisation and the work undertaken, successful applicants will be required to meet relevant UK security clearance and residency requirements
Supply Chain Team Leader employer: Empresaria UK Ltd
Empresaria UK Ltd is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that values collaboration and innovation within the defence engineering sector. With a focus on employee growth, you will have access to ongoing training and development opportunities while enjoying the flexibility of a home-based role with occasional travel. Join us to contribute to mission-critical programmes and make a meaningful impact in a supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Supply Chain Team Leader
✨Join Supply Chain Meetups
Get yourself out there by attending supply chain meetups and industry events. It's a great way to meet fellow professionals, learn about trends, and maybe even hear about job openings before they’re posted online.
✨Show Off Your Skills on LinkedIn
Don’t just sit back and wait for opportunities! Post insights or articles on LinkedIn about supply chain challenges or solutions you’re passionate about. This not only showcases your expertise but can catch the eye of recruiters looking for someone like you.
✨Engage with Supply Chain Communities
Dive into online communities related to supply chain operations like forums or groups on Reddit and LinkedIn. Engaging in discussions can help you network, get advice, and you might even stumble upon some hidden job opportunities.
✨Apply through Our Website
When you spot a position at Empresaria UK Ltd, make sure to apply through our website directly. It's often the quickest way to get your application in front of the right people and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role of Supply Chain Team Leader.
We think you need these skills to ace Supply Chain Team Leader
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Supply Chain Savvy:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in supply chain operations. Whether it’s managing logistics or coordinating with suppliers, we want to see examples of how you've navigated the complexities of the supply chain. Concrete achievements, like reducing costs or improving delivery times, will definitely catch our eye!
Quantify Your Impact:When listing your previous roles on your CV, go for numbers! Mention percentages or actual figures where possible—like how much you've improved efficiency or reduced waste. It's all about showing us the tangible impact you've made in your past positions in supply chain operations.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:In your cover letter, don’t just regurgitate your CV. Instead, connect your experiences specifically to the role at Empresaria UK Ltd. Share why you're passionate about supply chain operations and how this full-time role aligns with your career goals—I mean, who wouldn’t want to hear that!
Research and Reflect:Before you apply, take some time to research Empresaria UK Ltd and its supply chain operations. Reflect on how your skills and experiences can fit into their operations. Being able to discuss their challenges and how you can contribute to solving them in your application will really make you stand out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Empresaria UK Ltd
✨Know Your Basics in Supply Chain Management
Make sure you've got a solid grasp of key supply chain concepts like demand forecasting, inventory management, and logistics. We could be quizzed on these during technical rounds, so brush up on any software tools commonly used in the industry like SAP or Oracle. This knowledge will help us show we can hit the ground running!
✨Show Off Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to discuss real-world scenarios where you've used data analysis to solve supply chain challenges. If you've got experience with tools like Excel or Tableau, get ready to talk about how you've used these to optimise processes or improve efficiencies. Employers love seeing that we can turn data into actionable insights!
✨Highlight Your Teamwork and Project Management Skills
In a full-time role, collaboration is key. Think of examples where you've worked on cross-functional teams or managed projects. Sharing how you navigated challenges while working with diverse groups will show that we can thrive in a dynamic environment like at Empresaria UK Ltd.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by Empresaria UK Ltd
Look into any unique supply chain challenges Empresaria UK Ltd might be facing, whether it's sustainability, supplier relationships, or global disruptions. Being prepared to discuss these topics shows that we're not only informed but also genuinely interested in how we can contribute to their success. That’s a big plus in any interview!
