Supply Chain Director

Our client’s vision is to optimise their operations and build a world-class supply chain that supports their strategic growth goals. We are seeking a highly skilled and dynamic Supply Chain Director for our client to lead this transformation and ensure their supply chain is robust, efficient, and investment-ready.

Position Overview: The Supply Chain Director will be responsible for leading and optimising all aspects of the supply chain, procurement, and operational functions. This leadership role demands a strategic thinker with hands-on expertise in supplier risk management, ESG compliance, cost reduction, and global supply chain optimisation. Reporting to the CEO, the Supply Chain Director will play a pivotal role in supporting strategic objectives and ensuring sustainable growth.

Geographical Reach: Our client operates on a global scale, with its headquarters based in the UK and operational hubs and sales centres in Sydney, Australia, and Washington, USA. The Supply Chain Director will oversee supply chain activities across these regions, ensuring alignment, efficiency, and collaboration to achieve company-wide goals. The role will involve frequent interaction with regional teams and suppliers to streamline processes, standardise practices, and drive a unified approach to supply chain management across all locations.

Areas of Responsibility and Direct Reports: The Supply Chain Director will lead and manage key functions within the organisation, ensuring cohesive operations across the supply chain and customer-facing teams. Direct reports will include the following roles:

• Procurement: Oversee procurement specialists responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and contracting with suppliers. Ensure supplier diversification and compliance with company terms and ESG requirements.
• Supply Chain: Manage supply chain coordinators focusing on logistics, inventory optimisation, and global supply chain integration. Drive efficiency improvements in lead times, cost management, and delivery reliability.
• Production/Assembly: Oversee the leadership of production and assembly teams, ensuring high-quality output and efficient operations. Implement strategies to outsource sub-assembly work to third-party providers.
• Customer Services: Lead customer service teams to maintain exceptional service levels, address client needs, and ensure timely issue resolution. Collaborate with supply chain and production teams to guarantee seamless order fulfilment.

The Supply Chain Director will play an integral role in mentoring and developing these teams to achieve their full potential while aligning their efforts with the organisation’s strategic goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Supply Chain Management: Develop and implement a strategy to diversify supplier risks, ensuring secondary and tertiary suppliers are in place for key components where 10% or more of COGs depend on a single supplier. Mitigate geopolitical risks by establishing suppliers outside of conflict-prone areas. Lead supplier factory audits for the top 20% of suppliers (accounting for 80% of COG spend) to ensure quality, reliability, and alignment with company values. Drive negotiations to transition suppliers onto the organisation’s terms and conditions, reducing reliance on supplier-controlled agreements.
• Cost Optimisation and Operational Efficiency: Achieve a 5% reduction in the total COG cost base by the close of FY25 (£700k savings), aligned with the organisation’s five-year strategic growth plan. Negotiate and implement call-off agreements with key suppliers to improve delivery times and enhance working capital. Work to secure 90-day payment terms with key suppliers, eliminating the need for deposits or upfront payments. Outsource sub-assembly operations to third-party providers to streamline processes and improve efficiency.
• ESG and Compliance Leadership: Spearhead the organisation’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) program, ensuring compliance and driving sustainable supply chain practices. Onboard 20% of key suppliers (80% of COG spend) onto Sedex or a global equivalent to meet ESG standards and industry leading compliance.
• Global Supply Chain Integration: Consolidate UK, AU, and US supply chains to drive cost efficiencies and distribution synergies. Establish and maintain Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and a robust Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) framework with bi-annual/annual performance reviews.

Key Skills and Attributes:

• Strategic Leadership: Proven ability to develop and execute comprehensive supply chain strategies aligned with organisational goals.
• Risk Management: Strong experience in identifying and mitigating supplier risks, including geopolitical and supplier concentration risks.
• Negotiation Expertise: Skilled in negotiating supplier terms, contracts, and payment terms to achieve favourable outcomes.
• Financial Acumen: Ability to manage budgets, analyse cost structures, and deliver measurable cost savings.
• ESG Knowledge: Deep understanding of sustainability practices, ESG compliance frameworks (e.g., Sedex), and their integration into supply chains.
• Global Operations: Experience managing and optimising international supply chains across multiple regions.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Adept at building and maintaining relationships with suppliers, internal teams, and external partners.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• 10+ years of experience in supply chain leadership roles, with a focus on procurement, operations, and supplier management.
• Strong knowledge of supply chain technologies and tools for performance monitoring and data analysis.
• Demonstrated success in cost reduction initiatives and operational efficiency programs.
• Experience leading ESG initiatives within a supply chain context.

What We Offer:

• A collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
• The chance to make a meaningful impact on the organisation’s growth and sustainability journey.