At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the supply chain operations, manage procurement, and optimise inventory levels.
- Company: Established manufacturing and distribution business with a global network.
- Benefits: £50,000 salary, 25 days leave, profit-sharing scheme, and health support.
- Other info: Immediate start available for a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a key leadership role during an exciting period.
- Qualifications: Experience in supply chain management and strong team leadership skills.
Yolk Recruitment is working with an established and highly successful manufacturing and distribution business to recruit an experienced Supply Chain Manager for a 9-month minimum maternity cover contract. This is a key leadership position with responsibility for the end-to-end supply chain operation, including Procurement, inventory management, demand forecasting, supplier performance and inbound logistics. Working within a business that sources products and materials globally and supplies customers across a broad and varied product portfolio, you will ensure the organisation maintains the right stock, at the right levels, while balancing customer demand, availability, cost and working capital.
You will lead and develop the Procurement team, build strong relationships with global suppliers and work closely with Sales, Marketing and Operations to improve forecasting, identify future demand and ensure stock availability supports both day-to-day operations and major commercial opportunities. The business needs somebody who can join as soon as possible, quickly understand the existing supply chain and provide confident leadership and continuity throughout the contract.
Supply Chain Manager Responsibilities:
- Lead, coach and support the Procurement team, allocating workload and maintaining strong team performance.
- Manage the end-to-end supply chain strategy, continually identifying opportunities to improve processes, performance and efficiency.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with UK and international suppliers, ensuring reliable supply, quality and service.
- Develop and execute supplier negotiation strategies, securing competitive pricing and favourable commercial terms.
- Analyse historical sales, demand patterns, forecasts and market trends to support effective purchasing and inventory decisions.
- Work closely with Sales and Marketing to develop and continually refine inventory forecasts in response to changing customer demand.
- Establish and maintain appropriate safety stock levels and product mixes, ensuring availability while minimising excess inventory.
- Take ownership of inventory levels and value, identifying overstock and understock risks and implementing corrective actions.
- Support New Product Introduction (NPI) and core product lines, ensuring appropriate forecasting, purchasing and stock availability.
- Partner with Sales, Marketing and Operations to ensure stock and supply plans support major customer requirements and commercial opportunities.
- Monitor supplier and supply chain performance, identifying potential risks and implementing appropriate contingency or corrective actions.
- Manage relationships and performance across shipping agents, freight forwarders and hauliers, ensuring inbound goods are received accurately and within required timescales.
- Identify and deliver cost-saving opportunities across procurement, freight, inventory and the wider supply chain.
- Develop and monitor relevant supply chain KPIs, using data to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.
- Promote strong communication across Procurement, Sales, Marketing and Operations, ensuring teams remain aligned on forecasts, stock requirements and priorities.
- Drive continuous improvement across supply chain processes, systems and ways of working.
The Experience You’ll Bring:
- Previous experience within a Supply Chain Manager, Procurement Manager, Purchasing Manager or similar senior supply chain position.
- Strong experience within a manufacturing, distribution, logistics or product-based environment.
- Experience leading and developing a Procurement or Purchasing team.
- Strong supplier management and negotiation experience, ideally working with international suppliers.
- Good understanding of demand planning, forecasting, inventory management and safety stock.
- Experience managing stock levels and balancing product availability against inventory value and working capital.
- Strong commercial awareness with experience identifying cost-saving and process improvement opportunities.
- Understanding of international freight, shipping and inbound logistics would be highly advantageous.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales, inventory and forecasting data to make informed decisions.
- Confident working cross-functionally with departments including Sales, Marketing and Operations.
- Able to quickly understand an established operation and confidently take ownership within an interim environment.
- Highly organised, resilient and comfortable managing multiple priorities within a fast-paced business.
Benefits:
- £50,000 salary
- Minimum 9-month fixed-term contract, covering maternity leave
- 25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays
- Up to 4 additional days for Christmas shutdown
- Option to purchase an additional 3 days' annual leave
- Company profit-sharing scheme based on business performance
- Salary sacrifice pension scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Access to digital GP appointments and medical professionals
- Established, successful organisation with a global supplier and customer network
- Immediate start available
This role would suit an experienced Supply Chain professional who enjoys leading teams, improving supplier performance, managing inventory and working cross-functionally to keep operations running smoothly. If you’re looking to join a successful manufacturing and distribution business where you can take ownership of a complex supply chain, influence commercial performance and make a genuine impact during an important period for the business, we’d love to hear from you.
Please note: Due to high application volumes, we can’t respond to every applicant. If you haven’t heard from us within 7 days, unfortunately you’ve not been successful on this occasion. Please check our website for other opportunities. Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed.
Supply Chain Manager in Newport employer: Yolk Recruitment
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Supply Chain Manager in Newport
✨Tap into Temp Agency Networks
If you're eyeing a temporary role in supply chain operations, temp agencies can be your best pals. They often have exclusive contracts with companies like Yolk Recruitment that might not be posted publicly. Get registered with a few reputable agencies and stay in touch—they might just have the perfect gig for you!
✨Make Your Skills Shine
In the world of supply chain operations, showcasing your relevant skills can set you apart in a heartbeat. Try to highlight your experience with logistics software or inventory management techniques when chatting with potential employers. Offer specific examples of how you’ve streamlined operations in the past; it’s all about making that connection!
✨Join Supply Chain Meetups
Getting out there in the community isn’t just for full-time roles! Attend local supply chain meetups and networking events, as they can lead to temporary job opportunities. Plus, you never know—someone in the room could know about an immediate opening at Yolk Recruitment or have tips on where to look.
✨Be Agile and Available
For temporary positions, having flexibility can make you much more desirable to employers. Keep your schedule open and be ready to jump into assignments at short notice. If you can show that you’re adaptable, companies like Yolk Recruitment will notice and might keep you in mind for future temporary opportunities!
We think you need these skills to ace Supply Chain Manager in Newport
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Supply Chain Knowledge:Make sure you showcase any relevant coursework or experience in supply chain management in your CV. If you've worked with inventory management systems, logistics planning, or demand forecasting, include specific examples to demonstrate your skills—this is key in supply chain operations!
Certifications Can Make a Difference:If you've got any certifications related to supply chain operations, like APICS or Six Sigma, splash them in your CV! They can really help you stand out. Temporary roles often look for candidates who can hit the ground running, so proving you’ve got that extra knowledge is a big plus.
Emphasise Flexibility in Your Application:Since this is a temporary role, it's super important to highlight your flexibility and readiness to adapt to new environments. In your cover letter, mention your ability to learn quickly and your willingness to take on diverse tasks—this shows that you're the right fit for a dynamic supply chain environment.
Make Your CV Concise and Relevant:Keep your CV tight and relevant, focusing on the most important past experiences that relate directly to supply chain operations. Avoid filler and concentrate on the skills and experiences that will impress Yolk Recruitment and relate to the temporary nature of the role. Let's get you that interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at Yolk Recruitment
✨Know Your Supply Chain Tools
Brush up on the specific tools and software commonly used in supply chain operations, like SAP or Oracle. Make sure to highlight your familiarity with these during the interview at Yolk Recruitment, as it shows you're ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills
In a temporary role, they’ll want to see how quickly you can adapt and solve problems. Prepare for scenario-based questions that may ask how you’d handle disruptions like delays or inventory shortages. Think of real examples from your past experiences to share!
✨Flexibility is Key
As this is a temporary position, emphasise your willingness to be flexible. Talk about how you’ve quickly adapted to changes in previous roles or how you’re able to step in and learn new processes swiftly, especially those unique to Yolk Recruitment.
✨Prepare for Team Dynamics
Temporary roles often require quick integration into teams. Be ready to discuss your communication style and how you work collaboratively. You might face questions about working with cross-functional teams, so think about how you can highlight your teamwork skills.
