At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Supply & Inventory Planning Team to optimise processes and ensure customer satisfaction.
- Company: Join a passionate team at Nichols, dedicated to making life taste better.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private medical cover, and discounts on products.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving efficiency and sustainability in supply chain management.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading teams and knowledge of supply chain processes required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
Are you ready to take ownership of Supply & Inventory Planning and play a key role in driving business success? We are looking for a dynamic Supply & Inventory Planning Team Leader to support our UK route to market. We’re looking for a proactive and strategic thinker who thrives on leading others, optimising processes, solving complex challenges, and ensuring seamless service to our Customers. In this pivotal role you’ll lead our Supply & Inventory Planning Team, responsible for putting the customer at the heart of what we do to “Deliver WOW” in supplying our customers.
You will optimise stock deployment strategies for finished goods and raw materials, work within business policies and known constraints to deliver precision and reliability across the supply chain. You will champion Inventory Management excellence to ensure accuracy and efficiency, minimising risks and maximising opportunities. You will forge powerful partnerships with suppliers to meet supply plans, manage constraints and resolve issues quickly. This is your chance to excel, identifying and delivering opportunities to “Find a Better Way” with our partners and our internal teams to achieve fantastic service whilst minimising costs and CO2 emissions. Your efforts and leadership will demonstrate we’re truly “Passionate About What We Do” at Nichols by continuously monitoring, optimising and elevating performance within the Supply & Inventory Planning team. You will have a fantastic opportunity to play a valuable role in our Vimto journey, helping us to ‘Make Life Taste Better’ for everyone!
THE ROLE WILL INCLUDE
- Maintaining Stock Accuracy: Ensure flawless record‑keeping with 3PL partners and warehouses, keeping everything traceable and on point.
- Solving Inventory Challenges: Manage inventory risks, balancing supply and demand to avoid excess or shortages while communicating and expediting solutions.
- Ensuring Quality Control: Oversee inbound non‑conformance management, traceability, and stock status management to maintain top‑tier standards.
- Innovate with Insights: Develop supply plan scenarios and sensitivity analysis to support bold and informed business decisions.
- Generating KPIs and Reports: Generate insightful reports, monitor performance, and address any issues with actionable solutions.
- Supporting New Projects: Proactive planning for successful New Product Introductions (NPI) and other business‑critical projects.
- Leading Continuous Improvement: Identify and drive initiatives that cut costs, reduce carbon emissions, and elevate service levels.
- Optimisation: Define and refine inventory parameters to match demand variability and lead times, ensuring agility and accuracy.
- Empowering Your Team: Demonstrate empathetic leadership that inspires, motivates, and develops colleagues while fostering a culture aligned with company values and wellbeing strategies.
WHAT YOU WILL BRING
- Experience of leading teams within a supply chain environment.
- Management and development of a high‑performing cross‑functional team culture with an emphasis on embedding best practice and continuous learning.
- ERP systems knowledge including MRP, production planning and inventory control systems and processes.
- Production planning, materials requirements planning experience.
- Demonstrated experience of continuous improvement.
- Working within an S&OP/IBP cycle.
- Data visualisation tools capability such as Power BI or Tableau.
- Commercially savvy with a good general supply chain and business understanding.
- Proficiency in creating ‘What if’ scenarios and sensitivity analyses in Excel, driving actionable insights, identifying trends, issues and recommending improvement action.
- An understanding of safety stock calculations, reorder point formulas, and economic order quantity (EOQ) models.
BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH US
No matter where you work in our business you will be entitled to a range of amazing benefits, here is a snapshot of what we can offer you:
- 25 days holiday (with opportunity to buy extra every year)
- Save as you Earn Share Scheme
- Option to join our private medical cover scheme
- Enhanced Primary Carers leave and sick pay
- Your birthday off work
- Free on site parking
- 1 day a year off work to volunteer in the community (you choose when and where)
- Help yourself to our drinks when at one of our sites
- Staff shop with discounts on our products
We are committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We believe diverse teams perform at their best, and we welcome people with different backgrounds, life experiences, perspectives and ways of thinking. Our standard recruitment process for short‑listed candidates typically includes an initial call with our Talent Advisor, followed by a first‑stage interview via Microsoft Teams and second‑stage interviews face‑to‑face. If you require any reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please feel free to contact us. Any job offer is subject to an individual’s Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are unable to sponsor visas.
Supply & Inventory Planning Team Leader employer: Nichols
Nichols is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee wellbeing and development, offering a vibrant work culture where innovation and teamwork thrive. As a Supply & Inventory Planning Team Leader, you will benefit from generous holiday allowances, private medical cover options, and opportunities for community engagement, all while playing a crucial role in optimising supply chain processes to deliver outstanding service. Join us in our mission to 'Make Life Taste Better' and experience a workplace that values diversity, continuous improvement, and the empowerment of its employees.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Supply & Inventory Planning Team Leader
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the supply chain industry, especially those who work at Nichols or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for your interviews by practising common questions related to supply chain management. Think about how you can showcase your experience with inventory control and team leadership. We want to see your passion shine through!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your problem-solving skills! Be ready to discuss specific challenges you've faced in inventory planning and how you tackled them. We love candidates who can think on their feet and come up with innovative solutions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team and contributing to our mission of making life taste better.
We think you need these skills to ace Supply & Inventory Planning Team Leader
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Supply & Inventory Planning Team Leader. Highlight your experience in leading teams and optimising supply chain processes, as this will show us you’re the right fit for the job.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re passionate about supply chain management. Share specific examples of how you've solved complex challenges or improved processes in previous roles to really grab our attention.
Showcase Your Data Skills:Since data visualisation tools like Power BI or Tableau are key for this role, make sure to mention any relevant experience you have with these tools. We love seeing candidates who can turn data into actionable insights!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Nichols
✨Know Your Supply Chain Inside Out
Before the interview, brush up on your knowledge of supply chain processes, especially those related to inventory management. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you've used in the past to optimise stock deployment and manage inventory risks.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading teams within a supply chain environment. Think about how you've motivated your team, fostered a culture of continuous improvement, and resolved conflicts effectively.
✨Be Data Savvy
Familiarise yourself with data visualisation tools like Power BI or Tableau, as well as Excel for creating 'What if' scenarios. Be prepared to discuss how you've used data to drive actionable insights and improve supply chain performance.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills
Think of specific challenges you've faced in inventory management and how you overcame them. Highlight your ability to balance supply and demand while ensuring quality control, and be ready to share your thought process during these situations.
