COMPANY BACKGROUND:
SLINGCO is an award-winning supplier of high-quality tools and accessories for the installation and handling of cable, with over 40 years of industry heritage. We serve customers in over 70 countries worldwide from our head office in Lancashire, UK, and bases in Georgia, USA, and Bengaluru, India.
Our products are used in safety critical applications for a wide range of markets. With sectors including oil & gas, civil engineering, aerospace, transport, utilities, marine/offshore and the military – there’s no room for error. That’s why we do everything with the utmost care and precision.
We design and manufacture to the highest specifications and test to destruction. If our products don’t meet and exceed the most stringent national and international standards, they’re not good enough for our customers.
At Slingco, our goal is to create innovative high-quality products that our customers can depend on, whilst providing a positive experience for our customers and our employees. Every aspect of our work, culture and commitment to innovation is driven by our core values.
LOCATION: Onsite at Slingco's Head Office in Rawtenstall, Lancashire
BENEFITS:
Company Car/Car Allowance
Company Pension – Enhanced Employer Contributions
33 Days Annual Leave – Increasing to 38, inclusive of Bank Holidays
Birthday Off
BUPA Medical Cover
Life Insurance (x4 salary)
Onsite Parking
Gym Membership
Cycle to Work Scheme
Employee Loan Scheme
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Group Supply Chain Director is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the global supply chain operations, including the design and leadership of a scalable and resilient global supply chain capability that enables rapid growth through new products and new routes to market—delivering reliable customer promise (OTIF/OTD), optimised working capital, controlled supply risk, and strengthened supplier performance across a multi-region footprint.
KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Create and Own the Global Supply Chain Strategy & Blueprint to deliver a future state supply chain plan aligned to growth, resilience, costs and services outcomes
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing global supply chain team, setting clear roles, goals, and performance expectations, ensuring capability development, engagement, and succession planning to ensure organisational effectiveness and talent retention
Lead Integrated Business Planning (IBP & S&OP), to establish and run a governance cadence that aligns demand, supply, inventory and capacity —presenting scenarios and trade-offs at Exec level
Define Inventory Strategy (right stock, right place, right time) setting inventory policies (service vs working capital), reduce obsolescence risk, and improve global stock positioning—especially across multi-site flows
Strategic Sourcing & Contracting building category strategies, negotiate and manage supplier contracts, and optimise total cost (incl. landed cost and tariff/geopolitical exposure where relevant)
Own end-to-end Planning (Demand, Supply, Inventory, Capacity) to improve forecast accuracy and supply responsiveness; build capacity visibility across internal manufacturing and key suppliers
Supplier Performance Management (OTIF, lead time, reliability) implementing supplier segmentation, scorecards, and governance; drive corrective actions and performance recovery for critical suppliers
Supplier Development & Supply-Base Capability Uplift across all manufacturing and development activities
Supplier Quality Leadership (SQE) with Clear Governance. Ensure supplier quality engineering is embedded into sourcing and supplier management while aligning to Quality standards / release authority
Logistics & Distribution Performance (working with Operations/Regions), reducing dependency on premium freight; set freight and distribution strategy and ensure network execution supports promise dates and growth
Data, Systems & KPI Framework Improve planning/data maturity across fragmented systems; define KPIs and cadence (forecast accuracy, OTIF/OTD, inventory turns, supplier OTIF, expedite freight, COGS) and drive performance visibility
General:
Support projects and carry out any other duties as required by the organisation
Attend meetings and training courses when necessary
Maintain a flexible approach to all aspects of the job
Abide by company rules and regulations as detailed in the Staff Handbook
Treat all company information with confidentiality
To put the needs of our customers and suppliers first
Encourage and foster a helpful environment where teamwork and continuous improvement prevail
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
Strategic, commercially minded leader who can translate growth goals into executable supply chain capability
Strong executive communication—able to present scenarios, trade-offs and recommendations to Board-level audiences
Comfortable leading teams across geographies, time zones and cultures.
Highly structured individual, comfortable with governance, cadence, KPIs, and accountability
Deep expertise in IBP/S&OP, demand planning, supply planning, inventory policy design.
Strong procurement and strategic sourcing capability (category strategy, contracting, negotiations) within an Engineering environment
Proven supplier performance management and supplier development experience
Working knowledge of supplier quality engineering practices and governance (SQE/PPAP/APQP where relevant)
Strong systems and data fluency (ERP/MRP, planning tools, master data discipline) and performance reporting
Willingness to travel internationally as and when required
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:
Demonstrated experience in progressive supply chain leadership roles within engineering/manufacturing/distribution environments
Demonstrated leadership of an end-to-end supply chain function spanning planning, procurement & logistics
Proven track record improving OTIF/OTD, reducing expedite freight, and balancing service vs working capital
Experience operating across multi-site / international networks and managing international suppliers (including risk mitigation / dual sourcing)
Experience supporting NPI/NPD ramp-ups and integrating suppliers into product industrialisation
Degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Operations, Business or similar
Professional certifications such as APICS CPIM/CSCP or equivalent
CIPS (or strong equivalent) for senior procurement leadership credibility
Full UK Driving Licence