Strategic Supply Chain Lead (FMCG/Pet) - London

Location: London - 3 days office based (Covent Garden)

Team: Supply Chain Operations

About Us: At Untamed, we are on a mission to build Europe’s biggest cat brand, driving innovation in the $57 billion pet food industry's fastest-growing segment: cats. In just five years, we’ve delivered over 100 million meals to more than 500,000 cats across the UK, proving both product-market fit and scalability.

Role Overview: Responsible for the operational execution of Untamed’s supply chain, from building supply and demand plans through to placing purchase orders, coordinating freight, and ensuring goods land in our 3PL warehouse ready for sale. This is a hands-on role that owns demand forecasting, the full purchasing cycle, supplier relationships, freight coordination, 3PL liaison, and inventory health across both D2C and Retail channels.

Core Responsibilities:

• Supply & Demand Planning
  • Own and maintain the demand forecast across all channels (D2C and Retail), incorporating historical sales data, trends, seasonality, and promotional activity.
  • Collaborate with Growth, Retention, Finance, and the Retail team to capture upcoming promotions, budget changes, NPD launches, and retailer forecasts.
  • Build and maintain the supply plan, aligning demand forecasts with supplier production capacity, lead times, and shipping schedules.
  • Track and report on forecast accuracy (MAPE at SKU and channel level), identifying root causes of variance and improving methods over time.
  • Provide rolling demand and supply visibility to the wider business, flagging risks and opportunities early.
• Purchasing & Order Management
  • Own the end-to-end purchase order cycle: creation, placement, confirmation, tracking, and closure.
  • Convert demand forecasts into purchasing plans, factoring in lead times, MOQs, production schedules, and shipping windows.
  • Manage order amendments, split shipments, and urgent orders when demand shifts or supply disruptions occur.
  • Maintain accurate PO records and ensure system data is always correct.
  • Proactively flag risks to delivery timelines and propose mitigation actions before they become stock-outs.
• Supplier Relationship Management
  • Act as the primary operational contact for all production suppliers (Thailand, Vietnam, and any future origins).
  • Manage day-to-day supplier communications: production updates, quality issues, capacity planning, and scheduling.
  • Monitor and report on supplier performance (OTD, quality, responsiveness) with structured scorecards.
  • Support supplier negotiations including pricing reviews, contract terms, and capacity commitments.
  • Identify and evaluate potential new suppliers to reduce single-source risk and improve cost competitiveness.
• Freight & Logistics Coordination
  • Coordinate all inbound freight: ocean, air, and road as required.
  • Manage freight forwarder relationships, ensuring competitive rates and reliable service.
  • Track all shipments from factory gate to 3PL receipt, proactively managing delays.
  • Own customs and import documentation, ensuring compliance and avoiding delays/penalties.
  • Monitor freight cost per unit and identify opportunities to consolidate or optimise shipping.
• 3PL & Warehouse Liaison
  • Act as the day-to-day contact for the 3PL provider on inbound operations: booking deliveries, resolving discrepancies, and ensuring accurate goods-in.
  • Monitor inventory accuracy at the 3PL and escalate discrepancies.
  • Coordinate with the 3PL on stock movements, quarantine, and any operational issues affecting availability.
  • Support 3PL tender processes and transitions as required.
• Inventory Health & Availability
  • Own stock availability across all channels, ensuring DOH targets are met by SKU tier.
  • Provide weekly stock position reports and flag any lines at risk of stock-out or excess.
  • Work with the teams to adjust purchasing plans based on forecast revisions, promotional activity, and retail orders.
  • Manage slow-moving and short-dated stock, proposing clearance or reallocation actions.
• Cost Management
  • Track landed costs by SKU and identify trends, anomalies, and improvement opportunities.
  • Own invoice reconciliation for all procurement and logistics spend, ensuring accuracy against POs and contracts.
  • Support quarterly cost reviews with suppliers and freight providers.
  • Identify and deliver cost savings opportunities across the purchasing and logistics chain.
• Reporting & Process Improvement
  • Maintain and improve operational documentation.
  • Deliver weekly operational reports covering: PO status, shipment tracking, stock position, supplier performance, and cost tracking.
  • Own and continuously improve purchasing processes, templates, and workflows.
  • Support the team with data and analysis for strategic decision-making.

Person Specification:

Essential:

• 3+ years in a purchasing, procurement, or supply chain operations role, ideally in FMCG or food/pet food.
• Demonstrable experience in demand and supply planning, including building and maintaining forecasts.
• Experience managing international suppliers and understanding of import/customs processes.
• Strong Excel / Google Sheets skills and comfort working with data.
• Experience with freight coordination (ocean and air).
• Proven ability to manage multiple suppliers and POs simultaneously without dropping balls.
• Clear, proactive communicator who escalates early rather than hoping problems resolve.
• Organised and process-driven — builds systems rather than relying on memory.

Desirable:

• Experience working with Southeast Asian suppliers (Thailand/Vietnam).
• Familiarity with 3PL operations and warehouse management.
• Experience with subscription/D2C businesses alongside traditional retail.
• Knowledge of pet food or food industry regulatory/compliance requirements.
• Experience with demand planning tools or ERP systems.

Our Offer: We are offering a salary of £40,000 - £45,000 with flexibility dependent on experience. At Untamed, we don’t just look after cats, we look after the amazing people who make our mission possible. From day one, you’ll have access to an ever-growing list of benefits, including:

• A gorgeous office in the West End stocked with free coffee, tea, soft drinks, snacks and more
• 25 days of Annual Leave (plus your birthday off!) including carry-over days
• A Macbook/PC and all the tech you need to get set up
• Private Healthcare with Dental & Optical Cover
• Pension with employer contributions
• EMI Options Scheme so you can invest in the growth you build
• Generous L&D Opportunities & Budgets to further enhance your skills
• £50 a month wellness budget/gym contribution
• Paid charity days to support causes that matter to you
• Free counselling and coaching through Spill & MoreHappi
• Paid charity days to give back to causes that matter most to you
• 5 working days Peternity Leave to welcome a new pet to your home
• 28 working days sabbatical after 4 years
• Regular socials & team lunches
• Free Untamed subscription for your furry friends
• Opportunity to work in a fast-growing and innovative startup environment
• Collaborative and inclusive company culture