At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the strategy for card manufacturing and delivery in a global supply chain.
- Company: Join Wise, a tech company revolutionising how money moves worldwide.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to building money without borders.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on customer experience and drive innovation in finance.
- Qualifications: Experience in supply chain strategy and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 83000 - 110000 £ per year.
Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world’s money. Min fees. Max ease. Full speed. Whether people and businesses are sending money to another country, spending abroad, or making and receiving international payments, Wise is on a mission to make their lives easier and save them money. As part of our team, you will be helping us create an entirely new network for the world's money. For everyone, everywhere.
Your mission: Wise is building a scalable, transparent, and cost-efficient card issuance supply chain. We're looking for a Supply Chain Function Lead - Card Issuance to own the multi-year strategy for card manufacturing and delivery, design the operating model for a high-performing global supply chain function, and lead our partner portfolio end-to-end—from selection and governance to commercial negotiations and performance.
A core part of this role is senior partner stakeholder management: you'll represent Wise externally, keep vendors accountable to outcomes, and influence partner priorities and behaviours to protect Wise’s customer experience, cost, and resilience goals.
What you'll do
- Set strategy & build the operating model: Define and drive the 1-3 year strategy for card manufacturing and delivery - balancing service levels, product experience, cost-to-serve, and transparency. Design the operating model for a scalable global supply chain function (team structure, governance cadence, escalation paths, decision forums, metrics/scorecards). Own the monitoring roadmap (coverage, controls, ROI) so issues are detected early and resolved through clear ownership.
- Own the partner portfolio & drive vendor accountability: Lead the global partner portfolio strategy (manufacturer + delivery partners), including multi-vendor coverage and concentration risk management. Performance scorecards (SLA, quality, lead times, loss/damage, scan compliance, complaints, transparency) structured escalation and remediation playbooks root-cause expectations and corrective action plans with deadlines. Represent Wise in senior partner forums and ensure Wise priorities are executed. Proactively identify underperformance and lead exec-level decisions: invest / fix / replace, including transition planning and risk-managed migrations. Negotiate contracts end-to-end with a strong commercial stance: pricing models, volume tiers, indexation, cost drivers. Build robust contract architecture: SLAs/KPIs with meaningful remedies (credits/penalties/step-in rights), auditability, data transparency, and strong exit/transition clauses. Continuously challenge cost-to-serve while protecting customer experience.
- Influence cross-functionally & deliver change: Partner with Product, Ops, Risk, Compliance, Finance and Customer Support to define requirements and design scalable solutions. Lead cross-functional programmes for supply-chain changes (launch readiness, risk assessment, communications, stakeholder alignment). Communicate clearly to senior stakeholders using data-driven narratives and crisp trade-offs.
- Lead and grow the function: Hire, coach and develop the supply chain team; build capability, set standards, and drive performance. Set a high bar for ownership, transparency and execution internally and with partners.
What success looks like
- A clear 1-3 year supply chain strategy and annual plan with measurable targets.
- A resilient partner portfolio with primary/secondary coverage per region and tested transition playbooks.
- Measurable improvements in vendor performance: stronger SLA attainment, fewer delivery exceptions, better scan/comms transparency, and reduced cost-to-serve.
- Executive dashboards that enable fast decisions and clear accountability.
What we're looking for
- Proven ownership of end-to-end supply chain strategy covering card manufacturing, personalisation, and secure physical card delivery operations (payments/fintech strongly preferred).
- Demonstrated experience in card fulfillment and last-mile delivery, including postal network/courier management (e.g., Royal Mail, USPS, DHL), tracking integration, and delivery performance optimisation.
- Strong track record holding vendors accountable—including card bureaus, fulfillment houses, and delivery carriers—and influencing external partners to deliver outcomes aligned with your company’s interests.
- High-stakes commercial negotiation experience with manufacturing partners, personalisation bureaus, and logistics providers, with confidence representing your organisation at executive level.
- Deep capability in contract design: delivery SLAs/KPIs (e.g., dispatch speed, delivery success rates), pricing, remedies/credits, transparency clauses, and exit/transition planning.
- Experience managing multi-vendor portfolios, carrier concentration risk, and resilience planning (BCP/contingency) across production and distribution networks.
- Strong cross-functional programme leadership and senior stakeholder influence to optimise the end-to-end customer card delivery experience.
- People leadership: building/scaling teams, coaching, and performance management.
- Deep operational literacy in card manufacturing, fulfillment operations, and secure postal/courier delivery optimization.
Why this role at Wise
This is a high-ownership leadership role with direct impact on customer experience, cost, and resilience at global scale. You'll shape the function, set the standards for partner performance and transparency, and build a supply chain that can grow with Wise. For everyone, everywhere. We're people building money without borders without judgement or prejudice, too. We believe teams are strongest when they are diverse, equitable and inclusive. We're proud to have a truly international team, and we celebrate our differences. Inclusive teams help us live our values and make sure every Wiser feels respected, empowered to contribute towards our mission and able to progress in their careers.
Spend Operations Supply Chain & Delivery Function Lead employer: Wise
Wise is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and professional growth of its employees. With a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration, team members are encouraged to develop their skills while contributing to meaningful resilience strategies on a global scale. Located in a vibrant city, Wise offers competitive benefits and unique opportunities for career advancement, making it an ideal place for those seeking a rewarding and impactful career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Spend Operations Supply Chain & Delivery Function Lead
✨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 Wise, 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 Spend Operations Supply Chain & Delivery Function Lead.
We think you need these skills to ace Spend Operations Supply Chain & Delivery Function Lead
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 Wise. 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 Wise 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 Wise
✨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 Wise.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by Wise
Look into any unique supply chain challenges Wise 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!
