As the business transitions from an in-house, UK-based manufacturing and raw-material sourcing model to a contract manufacturing strategy in the UK & US, we are creating a new senior leadership position: Head of Procurement & Supply Chain.
This role consolidates responsibilities currently held across procurement and operational teams into a unified function responsible for the end-to-end procurement, supply chain and logistics ecosystem..
The Head of Procurement & Supply Chain will be accountable for strategic design, operational performance, and continuous optimisation of the entire supply chain, including procurement, contract manufacturing, production planning, inventory management, with oversight of freight, warehousing, and international logistics.
The successful candidate will bring deep procurement and supply chain experience, strong supplier and relationships, and the ability to build a scalable, resilient, and cost-efficient global supply chain capable of supporting rapid product launches and unpredictable demand.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Procurement & Sourcing
* Own the full procurement strategy across finished goods, bulk raw materials, packaging components, and services for UK and US operations.
* Lead strategic sourcing initiatives — identifying, evaluating, and qualifying contract manufacturers and key suppliers in both markets.
* Build and maintain a robust multi-supplier strategy to reduce concentration risk and ensure supply continuity.
* Develop and execute a supplier diversification roadmap aligned to the company’s growth trajectory.
Supplier Negotiation & Contract Management
* Lead all commercial negotiations with suppliers and co-manufacturers, securing competitive pricing, favourable terms, and long-term partnership agreements.
* Drive open-book costing initiatives with co-manufacturers to improve cost transparency and identify savings opportunities.
* Implement supplier performance frameworks (scorecards, SLAs, KPIs) and hold partners accountable to quality, compliance, and delivery standards.
* Conduct regular supplier site visits — both in the UK and US — to support audits, build relationships, and maintain strategic alignment.
Cost Management & Value Creation
* Identify and deliver cost reduction opportunities across the supplier base without compromising quality, compliance, or speed to market.
* ncrease visibility into total landed cost, manufacturing cost structures, and input cost trends.
* Partner with Finance on budget planning, cost forecasting, and working capital optimisation related to procurement and inventory.
* Lead initiatives to improve procurement efficiency, vendor consolidation, and purchasing terms.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
* Work closely with R&D and Commercial teams to support new product launches — ensuring procurement timelines align to launch schedules and supply is in place ahead of go-live.
* Collaborate with the Operations team on demand planning and production scheduling to maintain stock availability with minimal capital impact.
* Act as the primary point of contact for supplier-related escalations; lead root-cause analysis and corrective action processes for supply or quality failures.
* Liaise with Finance to ensure clean information flow between procurement commitments and financial reporting.
Compliance & Risk Management
* Ensure all suppliers and co-manufacturers meet relevant regulatory requirements (GMP, UK/US dietary supplement regulations, third-party certifications).
* Develop and maintain contingency plans for supply disruptions, capacity constraints, and raw material shortages.
* Manage supplier risk through diversification strategies, safety stock policies, and proactive relationship management.
What We’re Looking For
Essential
* Proven track record in procurement, strategic sourcing, and supplier negotiation — ideally in a consumer goods or manufacturing environment.
* Experience managing co-manufacturer or contract manufacturing relationships, including commercial negotiation and performance management.
* Demonstrated ability to drive cost transparency initiatives (e.g. open-book costing, should-cost modelling).
* Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance cost, quality, and speed.
* Excellent negotiation, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
* Willingness and ability to travel regularly to the United States (~30% of time).
Preferred
* Experience in dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, sports nutrition, or related regulated consumer health categories.
* Established network of US-based dietary supplement contract manufacturers — and hands-on experience working with them.
* Background in high-growth DTC or e-commerce brands where speed, agility, and cost discipline are equally important.
* Prior experience in a business undergoing structural change, rapid scaling, or a manufacturing model transition.
If this sounds like an exciting challenge you’d love to take on, we’d love to hear from you!
Please submit your CV today — we look forward to reviewing your application.