At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the entire supply chain process from planning to delivery, ensuring efficiency and customer satisfaction.
- Company: Join a dynamic manufacturing company focused on growth and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Be part of a leadership team driving transformation and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by optimising supply chains and enhancing customer service.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in supply chain and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 75600 - 92400 £ per year.
Role Overview
The Supply Chain Director will lead the end-to-end supply chain function across planning, procurement, materials management, logistics, warehousing and customer delivery.
Operating as a key member of the senior leadership team, the successful candidate will develop and deliver a supply chain strategy that supports business growth, manufacturing performance and excellent customer service.
They will ensure the business has the right materials, capacity and supply-base capability to meet production requirements while optimising inventory, cost, quality and working capital.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute the end-to-end supply chain strategy in alignment with the company's commercial and operational objectives.
- Lead demand planning, supply planning, production planning, procurement, inventory, warehousing and logistics.
- Translate customer demand and sales forecasts into robust material, capacity and production plans.
- Own and develop the S&OP/IBP process, ensuring effective alignment between Sales, Operations, Finance, Procurement and Supply Chain.
- Improve forecast accuracy, schedule adherence, material availability and on-time customer delivery.
- Develop strategic supplier relationships and lead sourcing, negotiation, contracting and supplier-development activity.
- Strengthen supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery, lead time, innovation and risk.
- Identify and mitigate supply-chain risks, including material shortages, capacity constraints, supplier failure and geopolitical disruption.
- Optimise inventory levels, stock turns and working capital while protecting production continuity and customer service.
- Lead logistics, warehousing and distribution activity, improving service, efficiency and cost performance.
- Establish clear supply-chain KPIs, reporting and governance, using data to identify issues and drive corrective action.
- Improve ERP, MRP and planning processes, ensuring accurate master data and disciplined system utilisation.
- Lead supply-chain transformation and continuous-improvement programmes using Lean and structured problem-solving techniques.
- Build, develop and retain a high-performing supply-chain team with clear accountability and succession plans.
- Work closely with Engineering, Quality and Operations to support new product introduction, product changes and manufacturing transfers.
- Contribute to business strategy, budgeting, investment decisions and wider operational performance as a member of the leadership team.
Experience and Qualifications
- Significant senior leadership experience within supply chain, ideally gained in a complex manufacturing or engineering environment.
- Proven responsibility for multiple supply-chain disciplines, including planning, procurement, inventory and logistics.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, MRP, capacity planning and S&OP/IBP.
- Demonstrable success improving customer delivery, supplier performance, inventory, working capital and operating cost.
- Experience leading organisational change, systems improvement and supply-chain transformation.
- Strong commercial, analytical and financial capability, with experience managing budgets and negotiating high-value agreements.
- Confident working with ERP and planning systems; SAP or equivalent experience would be advantageous.
- Degree or equivalent experience in supply chain, engineering, business or a related discipline.
- CIPS, ASCM/APICS or another relevant professional qualification would be desirable.
Leadership Profile
The successful candidate will be a commercially focused and data-led leader who can combine strategic thinking with operational delivery.
They will communicate effectively at board, customer and supplier level, challenge constructively and build strong cross-functional relationships.
They will demonstrate sound judgement, resilience and a continuous-improvement mindset, with the ability to bring structure, accountability and pace to a complex manufacturing supply chain.
Key Measures of Success
- On-time delivery and customer service
- Forecast accuracy and production-plan adherence
- Material availability and supplier delivery performance
- Inventory value, stock turns and working capital
- Procurement savings and cost avoidance
- Logistics and warehousing costs
- Supply-chain risk reduction
- Team capability and employee engagement
Supply Chain Planning Director in Birmingham employer: SF Partners Careers
Join a dynamic and innovative technology start-up in Birmingham, where your contributions as a Mechanical Lead will directly shape the future of cutting-edge AI-enabled products. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and creativity, the company fosters a vibrant work culture that encourages personal growth and professional development, offering competitive salaries, bonuses, and a range of benefits. This is not just a job; it's an opportunity to take ownership of exciting projects and be part of a passionate team driving technological advancements.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Supply Chain Planning Director in Birmingham
✨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 SF Partners Careers, 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 Planning Director.
We think you need these skills to ace Supply Chain Planning Director in Birmingham
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 SF Partners Careers. 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 SF Partners Careers 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 SF Partners Careers
✨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 SF Partners Careers.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by SF Partners Careers
Look into any unique supply chain challenges SF Partners Careers 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!
