Obsolescence Process Manager

As the Obsolescence Process Manager, you are primarily responsible for establishing and operating a proactive, auditable obsolescence-management process across the product lifecycle. You will monitor component, material, and supplier lifecycle status; assess technical, commercial, quality and programme risks; and coordinate timely, cost-effective mitigation to protect production continuity, product supportability and customer commitments. The role works closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Operations and Programme, Project & Product Management, using a plan to prioritise and close open obsolescence issues.

Main Responsibilities:

• Own and maintain the company obsolescence-management process, governance, procedures, registers and Obsolescence Management Plans, aligned with contractual requirements and recognised good practice such as IEC 62402.
• Monitor bills of material, approved parts, materials for lifecycle risk using supplier notices, product change notifications, end-of-life notices, market intelligence and approved lifecycle tools.
• Maintain accurate ERP, PLM and obsolescence-system data attributing to role, including lifecycle status, affected products, risk ratings, owners, actions, due dates and supporting evidence.
• Assess the impact of each issue on safety, compliance, quality, configuration, cost, inventory, schedule, production continuity, product supportability and customer commitments.
• Coordinate cross-functional investigations and recommend proportionate mitigation, including authorised alternate sources, form-fit-function substitutes, last-time or lifetime buys, repair, redesign, technology refresh or controlled product phase-out.
• Assist preparation of robust business cases and technical recommendations, balancing lifecycle demand, total cost, lead time, minimum order quantities, storage life, qualification effort and residual risk.
• Work with Engineering, Quality and Programme Management to ensure replacement solutions are appropriately evaluated, qualified, approved and implemented through formal change control processes.
• Work with wider Supply Chain team to receive timely lifecycle information, validate notices, identify alternatives and improve the quality and timeliness of obsolescence data.
• Chair regular Obsolescence Review Meetings; communicate priorities, decisions, dependencies and escalations; and drive actions through to verified closure.
• Develop and report key performance indicators covering exposure, ageing, response time, mitigation status, cost avoidance, residual risk and data quality.
• Support new product introduction, sourcing and design reviews by promoting lifecycle-aware component selection, second-source strategies and long-term availability considerations in conjunction with wider Supply Chain team.
• Ensure proposed mitigations comply with applicable quality, regulatory, environmental, export-control, customer, counterfeit-avoidance and traceability requirements.
• Provide training, guidance and continuous improvement to embed proactive obsolescence ownership across relevant functions and perform other duties or special projects as assigned.

Education/Qualifications:

• HNC/HND, degree or equivalent experience in electronic, electrical, mechanical, manufacturing or systems engineering, supply chain, or a related technical discipline.
• Professional qualification or formal training in obsolescence, component engineering, lifecycle management, configuration management or project management.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Experience of obsolescence, DMSMS, component engineering, product lifecycle, through-life support or technical supply-chain management.
• Knowledge of electronic, electromechanical or mechanical components and their lifecycle risks.
• Experience interpreting bills of material, engineering drawings, specifications, supplier notices and lifecycle data.
• Understanding of ERP/MRP and PLM systems, configuration control and engineering change processes.
• Experience of risk assessment, technical investigations, mitigation planning and supplier engagement.
• Knowledge of IEC 62402, counterfeit avoidance, REACH, RoHS and aerospace or defence quality requirements.

Competencies:

• Strong analytical, data-management and problem-solving skills.
• IT literate, including advanced capability in Excel and confidence working with lifecycle databases and reporting tools.
• Able to evaluate technical and commercial options and make clear, evidence-based recommendations.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, risks, actions and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, stakeholder-management and influencing skills.
• Detail-oriented, proactive, resilient and able to work autonomously while coordinating cross-functional teams.

Other:

• SC cleared or ability to obtain.
• Ability to travel to company, supplier and customer locations as required.
• Flexibility to work additional hours when business-critical obsolescence events require urgent action.