Supply Chain Solutions Business Partner role based anywhere in the UK Overall Purpose To bring genuine shipper-side supply chain experience into commercial activity, enabling deeper customer conversations, stronger sourcing decisions and customer-led solutions for significant bids. The role provides independent, evidence-based advice, owns solution design and cost modelling for major opportunities, and protects solution integrity through mobilisation. CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES Value diagnostics & advisory - Lead the facilitated company Value Diagnostic with the KAM - Analyse customer data; assess value, evidence confidence and change readiness; - Produce a prioritised improvement roadmap; support QBRs,customer discovery and complex supply chain conversations. Supplier sourcing & partner development : - Scope new requirements, identify and qualify suppliers, - Support commercial negotiation and recommend the best option based on capability, compliance, technology fit, financial standing, cultural fit, risk and value. Opportunity qualification, RFQs & tenders - Apply disciplined opportunity gateways; define pursue conditions; - Own the operating solution and cost model for significant bids;document assumptions and sensitivities; - Support the KAM to present a defensible response. Implementation & solution integrity - Support mobilisation so that the agreed solution is built as sold; - Clarify dependencies, controls and decision points; *- Maintain a decision record; apply process improvement methods; and hand over cleanly at steady state. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES / OUTPUTS Customer diagnostics and capability building - Prepare and facilitate diagnostic workshops across leadership focus, financial control, cost, service, visibility and risk; record differences in stakeholder priorities as findings. - Convert unverified points into follow-up data requests; produce a scored assessment, gap analysis, improvement roadmap and clear realisation conditions. - Build KAM capability through observation, co-facilitation, coaching and structured debriefs, with the aim of making the team increasingly self-sufficient. - Identify improvement and growth opportunities within existing accounts and translate customer objectives into actionable supply chain problem statements. Sourcing and solution design - Maintain an informed view of relevant supplier markets, qualify new partners and convert partner capability into repeatable company propositions. - Lead or support negotiations and present recommendations that clearly set out reasoning, risks, alternatives and key dependencies. - Design the proposed operating model, network, supplier mix and service commitments for significant opportunities. - Build and own cost models with transparent assumptions,sensitivities and failure points, working with Finance on validation. Commercial qualification and mobilisation - Assess strategic fit, data sufficiency, feasibility, delivery capability, risk and commercial attractiveness before bid commitment. - Challenge unsupported commitments, recommend bid or nobid, and run structured reviews of wins and losses. - Support Operations and the KAM during mobilisation, using process mapping and recognised improvement techniques to reduce delivery risk. - Capture implementation learning and feed it into future diagnostics, sourcing decisions, propositions and bids. WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE - 8-10 facilitated Value Diagnostics in the first 12 months, with conversion baseline established. - Gateway assessment completed for every significant opportunity, including declined opportunities. - Solution and costings owned for 100% of significant tenders; win-rate baseline established and improved. - defined sourcing process applied to every new requirement; savings verified with Finance. - At least two KAMs able to co-facilitate a diagnostic unsupported by year end. - Improved margin accuracy and reduced implementation variance between solution sold and solution delivered. - Lean Six Sigma Green Belt held or achieved within 12 months, with one sponsored improvement project delivered. PERSON SPECIFICATION - The successful candidate will combine operational supply chain depth, commercial judgement, sourcing capability, analytical rigour and strong facilitation skills. - The defining requirement is substantial shipper-side experience as the customer, rather than experience gained solely within a logistics provider. KEY SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE - Substantial shipper-side supply chain experience, with direct accountability for cost, service,inventory and/or supply continuity. - Practical experience of sourcing and negotiating with logistics or supply chain providers from the buying side. - End-to-end supply chain mapping, current-state diagnosis and future-state solution design. - Proven ability to facilitate structured workshops with senior customer stakeholders, including delivering challenging evidence-based findings. - Track record of building and defending supply chain cost models, options and business cases. - Ability to interpret incomplete data, state assumptions clearly and distinguish evidence from professional judgement. - Credibility with senior commercial and operational stakeholders, with the confidence to challenge constructively without damaging relationships. - Ability to influence without line authority, work across functions and produce concise, well reasoned written recommendations. DESIRABLE - Tender and RFQ experience from either side of the table. - Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent continuous improvement qualification. - Exposure to 4PL, lead logistics provider or control tower models. - European logistics markets and cross-border partner procurement. - Working knowledge of transport management systems and supply chain visibility tools. - CIPS, MCIPS or equivalent procurement qualification. KEY RELATIONSHIPS Credibility with specialists and senior leaders Structured thinking and transparent assumptions Constructive challenge Influence without authority Independent, customer-centred judgement Capability building and knowledge transfer
Supply Chain Solutions Business Partner employer: Freight Personnel
Join a dynamic and supportive team at our well-established freight forwarder, where your role as a Freight Customs Clerk will be pivotal in delivering exceptional service to our clients. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, we offer competitive salaries, generous holiday allowances, and regular incentives, all within a collaborative work culture that values your contributions. Located in a thriving area, this position not only provides meaningful work but also the opportunity to develop your skills in a fast-paced environment.
