At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the supply chain and ensure materials meet production demands.
- Company: Join IrvinGQ, a leader in innovative defence solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, pension scheme, and health benefits.
- Other info: Opportunities for career growth and travel to exciting locations.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a collaborative environment focused on excellence.
- Qualifications: Experience in supply chain management and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
Supply Chain Manager
Benefits: Pension Salary Sacrifice Scheme, Life Assurance, Cycle to Work Scheme, Company Sick Pay, Corporate Eyecare vouchers, Health Care Cashplan
About Us
Irvin GQ is a world-leading supplier of parachutes, aerial delivery systems and naval decoys to customers around the world.
We create innovative products that our customers know they can rely on in highly challenging conditions where there are no second chances.
Our systems must work right first time, every time.
If you want to be part of a collaborative and supportive team that helps customers achieve their goals through great engineering that stands out from the crowd and are looking for your next challenge, then we want to hear from you!
About the Role
The Supply Chain Manager is responsible for leading the end-to-end supply chain, production planning, material availability and supplier performance activities required to support Irvin GQ’s operational delivery, customer commitments and growth objectives.
The role will ensure that materials, purchased parts, subcontract activity and production plans are aligned to demand, inventory targets, customer delivery requirements and business performance metrics.
Reporting into the Senior Operations Manager you will work closely with Operations, Sales, Engineering, Quality, Finance, Project Management and Business Unit teams to maintain on-time delivery, low past dues, optimise inventory, strengthen supplier performance and support productivity improvement across the business.
Primary Responsibilities
- Supply Chain Leadership
- Lead through visibly demonstrating and instilling our culture.
- Champion Irvin GQ’s values and contribute positively to a culture of accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement and customer focus.
- Lead the Supply Chain and Planning function, ensuring clear priorities, accountability and alignment with operational and business unit requirements.
- Develop and maintain robust processes for purchasing, supplier management, material planning, production planning and inventory control.
- Drive a culture of urgency, ownership, continuous improvement and cross-functional problem solving.
- Support the development of team capability through coaching, performance management and succession planning.
- Planning and Material Control
- Own the sales, inventory, supply and production planning processes required to support customer demand and business plan delivery.
- Ensure loaded customer demand has the required raw material, purchased parts and subcontract support available in line with production schedules.
- Identify, communicate and escalate material risks, capacity constraints and supplier issues that may impact customer delivery or revenue recognition.
- Work with Operations and Business Unit teams to establish clear build plans, recovery plans and priorities for high-value or time-critical programmes.
- Supplier Performance and Procurement
- Manage supplier performance, including on-time delivery, quality, responsiveness, cost, lead time and risk mitigation.
- Establish clear supplier improvement plans where performance does not meet business requirements.
- Support strategic sourcing, dual sourcing, low-cost country sourcing and Make vs Buy activities where they improve continuity of supply, productivity or EBITDA performance.
- Ensure purchasing activity is commercially robust, compliant with business processes and aligned with operational priorities.
- Inventory and Working Capital
- Own inventory accuracy, inventory profile planning and material availability across the supply chain.
- Reduce excess, obsolete and inactive stock while protecting customer delivery and production continuity.
- Review safety stock, reorder points, lead times and supplier stockholding arrangements to optimise working capital.
- Use ERP data, reporting tools and visual management to support agile decision making and early risk identification.
- Cross-Functional Delivery
- Work closely with Engineering and Production Engineering to ensure bills of material, stock codes, routings and technical changes support efficient purchasing and planning.
- Partner with Project Management to support major programmes, customer milestones and recovery plans.
- Collaborate with Finance to align inventory, cost, working capital and forecast assumptions.
- Contribute to business reviews, operational performance reviews and improvement plans with clear data, actions and ownership.
- Continuous Improvement and Risk Management
- Lead supply chain improvement projects that improve customer OTD, reduce past dues, reduce cost, lower inventory or improve process control.
- Identify supply chain risks and opportunities, including single-source dependency, long lead-time materials, subcontract constraints and supplier capacity limitations.
- Develop mitigation plans and contingency actions to protect customer delivery and business performance.
- Support ERP, Power BI and reporting improvements that strengthen planning discipline and operational visibility.
Skills and Experience
- Proven experience in supply chain, materials management, planning, procurement or operations within a manufacturing environment.
- Strong understanding of MRP/ERP systems, production planning, inventory control and purchasing processes.
- Experience of managing supplier performance and resolving material availability issues in a time-critical environment.
- Ability to lead teams, influence cross-functionally and communicate clearly at all levels of the business.
- Strong analytical capability with the ability to use data to identify issues, set priorities and drive action.
- Experience in aerospace, defence, regulated manufacturing or high-mix/low-volume production would be advantageous.
- High ownership, urgency and accountability for delivery.
- Practical, hands-on approach with the ability to operate at both strategic and detailed levels.
- Calm and structured under pressure, with strong problem-solving capability.
- Commercially aware, data-driven and focused on business outcomes.
- Collaborative leadership style with the ability to build trust across Operations, Engineering, Quality, Sales and Finance.
Qualifications
- CIPS, APICS, supply chain, operations management or equivalent professional qualification would be desirable but not essential.
Other Considerations
- Willingness to travel between Irvin GQ sites and to customer or supplier locations where required.
- Valid UK driving licence preferred.
- Must be able to work in a defence-related environment and satisfy applicable security requirements.
Supply Chain Manager in Bridgend employer: IrvinGQ
IrvinGQ is an exceptional employer located in Bridgend, offering a collaborative and supportive work culture that values precision and innovation. Employees benefit from a comprehensive package including a pension scheme, life assurance, and opportunities for personal growth within a leading-edge engineering environment. Join us to be part of a dedicated team that thrives on delivering high-quality solutions in challenging conditions, all while enjoying a rewarding work-life balance with our unique shift patterns.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Supply Chain Manager in Bridgend
✨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 IrvinGQ, 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 Manager.
We think you need these skills to ace Supply Chain Manager in Bridgend
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 IrvinGQ. 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 IrvinGQ 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 IrvinGQ
✨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 IrvinGQ.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by IrvinGQ
Look into any unique supply chain challenges IrvinGQ 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!
