VP - Product, Supply Chain & Operational Technology

Location: London, ENG, GB; Frankfurt, Hesse, DE; Beauvais, FR; Haarlem, NL; Stockport, ENG, GB; Corby, ENG, GB.

Brand: RS Group

Function: Digital & Technology

Work Location: Hybrid - remote and European offices with travel.

The Opportunity

The Vice President of Product, Supply Chain & Operational Technology is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving transformation, operational excellence, innovation and best practice across our global product and supply chain functions. This executive will work in close partnership with business owners and stakeholders to ensure technology initiatives deliver committed outcomes of time, cost and quality with measurable business value, enhance customer experience, and support long‑term growth objectives. The role will oversee a coordinated, phased global rollout and deployment of upgraded enterprise warehouse management systems and distribution centre moves and migrations, in alignment with a simultaneous ERP program transition & consolidation from SAP ECC 6x to SAP S4 HANA.

What You Will Be Doing

• Collaborative Partnership: Serve as a trusted advisor and collaborative partner to business ownership, fostering alignment between technology, operations and commercial goals.
• Strategic Planning & Execution: Develop and execute a multi-year roadmap for product, supply chain and operational technology transformation, ensuring all initiatives support RS Group’s global growth strategy and operational efficiency goals.
• System Integrator & Technology Partner Management: Lead and manage relationships with system integrators responsible for upgrading enterprise warehouse management systems (WMS). Oversee all phases of the global rollout, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet quality standards of scale, support, security & safety.
• Coordinated Global Deployment: Design and implement a phased approach to WMS upgrades across multiple regions, balancing local requirements with global standardization. Ensure seamless integration and minimal disruption to business operations throughout the deployment process.
• Product Pipeline and New Product Introduction: End to end project delivery & systems ownership across all regions ensuring integration, performance and efficiency of the product pipeline is maximised and cost effective.
• ERP Program Alignment: Work closely with ERP program leadership to synchronize WMS upgrades with the organization’s transition from ECC to S4. Ensure technology platforms are harmonised, data integrity is maintained, and process changes are well-communicated and adopted.
• Change Management: Champion organisational change management strategies to drive adoption of new technologies, processes and ways of working. Support training, communication and stakeholder engagement efforts to facilitate successful transformation.
• Performance Measurement: Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the impact of technology initiatives on supply chain efficiency, product availability, customer satisfaction and overall business performance. Accountable for overall programme and department budget management, tracking and actuals.
• Risk Management: Ensure that security by design, data privacy by design and AI by design are at the forefront of both design thinking and operational delivery ensuring a cycle of testing and mitigation is in place for critical and exposed operational systems. Identify and mitigate risks associated with large-scale system upgrades and enterprise transformations. Develop contingency plans and proactively address challenges to ensure project success.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Supply Chain Management, Engineering or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in product and supply chain technology roles within large, global industrial distribution or manufacturing businesses.
• Proven track record of successfully managing large-scale system integrator partnerships and enterprise technology deployments.
• Deep expertise in warehouse management systems (WMS), ERP platforms (ECC and S4), and supply chain process optimisation.
• Exceptional leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience with global, multi-site technology rollouts and change management initiatives.
• Experience in Cyber Security, ITIL and working with a hybrid Waterfall and Agile delivery model.
• Previous experience, knowledge or ownership of Operational Technology, such as handhelds, scanners, warehouse control systems and pack, pack and dispatch automation.
• Experience in Cyber Security, legal and regulatory compliance.
• Working in various cloud models and an understanding of trading operating models and cross-border international supply chain considerations.

The following are also important for the role, but are not essential:

• Strong knowledge of SAP modules relevant to distribution (SD, MM, WM/EWM exposure, FI/CO, pricing, rebates, credit, intercompany, trade compliance).
• Experience with data governance programmes and MDM tooling.
• Exposure to cloud infrastructure, security frameworks, network topologies and enterprise integration patterns (API-led, middleware).

Rewards

• Financial – pension/retirement, life assurance, salary finance (payroll deduction loan scheme).
• Wellbeing – medical plans, health screening, critical illness, disability insurance, holiday / paid time off, employee assistance programme, discounted gym/health club membership.
• Lifestyle – transportation assistance schemes (cycle to work, travel loans, car leasing), onsite catering/lunch vouchers, retail discounts.
• Spotlight – our global recognition programme provides a platform to highlight and recognise people role-modelling our values.