At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and build a dynamic supply chain for a fast-growing hair extension brand.
- Company: Join Additional Lengths, a top UK hair extension specialist with a global reach.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, private health insurance, and a 40% staff discount.
- Other info: Be part of a certified B Corp and one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work.
- Why this job: Shape the future of our supply chain and make a real impact as we expand.
- Qualifications: Significant supply chain experience and strong commercial acumen required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Twenty-three years ago, Victoria Lynch turned deep hair extension expertise into a brand. Today, that brand is a multi-channel group serving customers and salons on every continent, growing fast, and about to hand someone the keys to build the supply chain that gets us to our next stage of growth.
About Us
Additional Lengths has grown into one of the UK's leading hair extension specialists — home to additionallengths.com, our direct-to-consumer destination for luxury extensions, and Remi Cachet, the UK's number one brand for professional hair extensions. We're headquartered in Stockton-on-Tees with a co-working space in London, and we ship worldwide.
We're a certified B Corp, which shapes how we source hair, how we treat suppliers, and how we treat our own people. We were named one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work in 2024. Our team has more than doubled in recent years, we turned over £25m+ last year, and we're mid-expansion into new international markets right now.
Growth like that puts real pressure on supply chain. That's exactly the problem we're hiring you to solve.
The Opportunity
Right now, demand planning, procurement, inventory and warehousing all sit in different hands. We're bringing all of it under one owner — you. You'll report to our Operations Director, lead a Demand Planner and a Warehouse Manager, and carry accountability for cost-to-serve, product availability and working capital across the whole group.
This isn't a role where you inherit a finished machine and keep it running. You're building the engine room for a business heading well past where it is today — new markets, new channels, and a lot more volume than we're moving now.
What You'll Own
- Procurement & supplier management
- Own purchasing and supplier relationships end to end — pricing, MOQs, lead times, payment terms
- Manage supplier performance on delivery, quality and defects
- Oversee inbound logistics, lead times and imports
- Product quality & ethical sourcing
- Set incoming quality standards, with particular rigour on human hair quality
- Hold suppliers to clear ethical and labour standards, backed by audits
- Maintain full traceability of hair from source to stock
- Supply risk & resilience
- Map single-supplier and lead-time risk across the portfolio
- Build alternative sources for critical lines and contingency plans for disruption
- Demand & supply planning (S&OP)
- Own the end-to-end plan — your Demand Planner leads the forecast, you own supply planning, the balancing decision, and the trade-offs
- Chair the monthly S&OP process across demand, supply, finance, marketing and commercial
- Inventory & availability
- Set safety stock, reorder points and replenishment policy
- Balance availability against working capital across every channel and market, owned and 3PL
- Warehousing & outbound logistics
- Line-manage the Warehouse Manager, goods-in to dispatch
- Set service levels and cost-to-serve targets, negotiate carriers
- Own export/customs strategy as new markets come online
- Cost, performance & improvement
- Own cost per order and per unit, and bring it down without sacrificing service
- Own returns end to end — rate, processing time, and cost
- Lead improvement initiatives backed by a costed business case, not a hunch
What You'll Bring
- Significant supply chain experience across procurement, inventory and fulfilment/logistics in e-commerce, retail, beauty or consumer goods
- Strong commercial acumen — you negotiate with margin, cost and cash in mind
- Experience running a warehouse or 3PL operation and leading an operational team
- Comfortable operating hands-on in an SME with a small team — this is a build role, not a maintain role
- Genuinely tech-savvy: fluent in Excel/Sheets, confident with WMS, ERP and ecommerce platforms like Shopify, and keen to shape how our tools evolve, not just operate what's already there
- A track record of measurably improving availability, forecast accuracy and cost-to-serve
- Experience running S&OP or similar, working closely with a demand planning function
- Carrier/freight negotiation and international sourcing/imports/exports experience is a strong plus
- CIPS or equivalent is a bonus, not a requirement
If you don't tick every box, apply anyway. We've got strong training and development behind this role, and we'd rather meet you than miss you.
What's On Offer
- A genuine seat at the table — influence strategy and shape the business as it scales, not just execute someone else's plan
- Room to grow as we grow: this role will get bigger as the business does
- 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, plus your birthday off
- Up to 12 weeks' paid New Child Leave for all new parents, however your family grows
- Private health insurance (Vitality) and a healthcare cash plan
- Enhanced pension with salary sacrifice
- 40% staff discount on Additional Lengths, 20% off third-party brands
- Death in service cover at 4x salary
- Enhanced sick pay and an Employee Assistance Programme
- Paid volunteering days each year
Head of Supply Chain in Thornaby-on-Tees employer: Impact Evolve
At IMPACT EVOLVE, we pride ourselves on fostering a vibrant work culture that encourages creativity and innovation. As a Destination Venue Leader at College Farm, you'll not only have the chance to shape an exciting hospitality experience in the stunning Cotswolds but also benefit from extensive employee growth opportunities and a supportive team environment that values your entrepreneurial spirit.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Supply Chain in Thornaby-on-Tees
✨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 Impact Evolve, 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 Head of Supply Chain.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Supply Chain in Thornaby-on-Tees
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 Impact Evolve. 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 Impact Evolve 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 Impact Evolve
✨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 Impact Evolve.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by Impact Evolve
Look into any unique supply chain challenges Impact Evolve 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!
