UK Supply Chain Director

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.
Safran is in the 2nd place in the aerospace and defense industry in TIME magazine\’s \”World\’s best companies 2024\” ranking.

Safran Electronics & Defense offers its customers onboard intelligence solutions allowing them to understand the environment, reduce mental load and guarantee a trajectory, even in critical situations, in all environments: on land, at sea, in the sky or space. The company harnesses the expertise of its 13,000 employees towards these three functions: observe, decide and guide, for the civil and military markets.

What does the role look like?

We are recruiting a UK Supply Chain Director to lead end-to-end supply chain performance for our Actuation Systems business operating across two manufacturing sites (Wolverhampton & Banbury).

This is a senior leadership role with full accountability for direct material spend, supplier performance, and supply chain resilience in a highly regulated environment.

This role suits a commercially minded, solutions-driven leader who thrives on fixing problems, improving systems, and raising standards. You\’ll be well versed in creating high performing teams, supporting NPI & creating a proactive rather than reactive culture.

What will your day-to-day responsibilities look like?

Leading the end-to-end supply chain across two UK aerospace manufacturing sites
Owning and executing the UK supply chain strategy aligned to business and customer requirements
Full accountability for all direct material spend, including raw materials and engineered components
Driving cost reduction, value engineering, and total cost of ownership initiatives
Negotiating and managing strategic supplier agreements
Ensuring continuity of supply, capacity assurance, and supplier risk mitigation
Leading supplier performance across OTIF, quality, cost, and delivery
Ensuring materials availability to support production plans and programme commitments
Improving S&OP, MRP effectiveness, inventory optimisation, and working capital performance
Embedding a continuous improvement culture across procurement, planning, and logistics
Leading structured improvement initiatives to eliminate root cause issues
Building, developing, and holding accountable a high-performing, multi-site supply chain team

Essential skills:

Senior supply chain leadership experience within aerospace or a similarly regulated manufacturing environment
Proven ownership of direct spend and complex supplier networks
Excellent commercial capability with confident supplier negotiation experience

Desirable skills:

Track record of delivering cost, delivery, and supply resilience improvements
Experience leading multi-site supply chain teams
Comfortable operating at pace in a demanding, high-accountability environment
Degree qualified (Engineering, Supply Chain, or Business)
Lean / Six Sigma or equivalent continuous improvement experience
Experience supporting NPI or programme ramp-ups