The
Supply Chain Manager
plays a critical leadership role in driving the effective flow of materials and information across the supply chain - from customer demand through to on-time delivery to production. This role is responsible for overseeing and optimising all aspects of supply chain operations including demand planning, inventory management, warehousing, material kitting, and logistics to ensure that production is supported
on time, every time
.
The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of end-to-end supply chain processes, demonstrate proactive leadership, and foster a culture of operational excellence, continuous improvement, and collaboration across teams and with external partners.
Performance Targets:
* Improve demand forecast accuracy and reduce order variances by 20% within 12 months
* Achieve 99% material availability to production at the point of use
* Reduce overall inventory holding by 25% within 12 months
* Cut material lead times by 20% via planning and logistics optimisation
* Increase warehouse and kitting efficiency by 25% within 12 months
* Improve team engagement and performance by 20% (based on EES Score)
Key Responsibilities:
1. Demand & Supply Planning
* Own and manage the
demand signal
from customer orders through to material availability for production.
* Collaborate with Planning and Sales teams to ensure accurate contract reviews and forecast alignment.
* Implement and lead
Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP)
process to balance supply with demand.
* Use data and analytics to anticipate material needs and minimise shortages or excess inventory.
2. Warehousing & Inventory Management
* Oversee warehousing operations ensuring safe, efficient, and
organised storage
of materials.
* Implement best-in-class inventory control processes (e.g.,
cycle counting, ABC analysis, FIFO
).
* Ensure 100% material traceability and accountability throughout the supply chain.
* Lead
5S
and continuous improvement initiatives in warehousing and logistics areas.
3. Kitting & Material Presentation
* Implement a robust
kitting strategy
to ensure materials are picked, staged, and delivered to production lines in a timely and accurate manner.
* Ensure kitting processes support takt time and production schedules with zero disruptions.
* Align kitting outputs with Just-In-Time (JIT) and lean manufacturing principles.
4. Procurement & Vendor Management
* Oversee supplier performance to ensure timely delivery of quality materials.
* Support vendor development, qualification, and regular performance reviews.
* Optimise supplier lead times and work collaboratively on
VMI (Vendor Managed Inventory)
or
Kanban
strategies.
5. Logistics & Material Flow
* Manage inbound and outbound logistics, ensuring cost-effective and timely transportation.
* Collaborate with production and planning teams to optimise the flow of materials and WIP.
* Introduce agile logistics practices to increase flexibility and responsiveness.
6. People & Leadership
* Develop and coach a high-performing supply chain team with clear performance and development goals (PDRs).
* Drive team engagement through regular communication, coaching, and recognition.
* Maintain an up-to-date
skills matrix
and succession plan.
* Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
7. SQCDP (Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, People) Leadership
* Use the SQCDP framework to drive and measure performance across all areas of responsibility.
* Lead daily stand-ups and structured team meetings to review progress and remove roadblocks.
* Lead root cause analysis and problem-solving activities (Kaizen, A3s, 8Ds) to address issues.
Key Objectives & Results (Examples):
Objective | Key Result
Improve demand visibility | Reduce unplanned shortages by 25%
Optimise warehousing | Increase pick accuracy to 99.5%
Improve material flow to production | Achieve 99% on-time delivery to line
Reduce working capital | Cut inventory by 15% while maintaining service level
Develop team skills | Improve skill coverage across all critical roles by 30%
Preferred Qualifications:
* Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations Management, or related field.
* 5+ years of experience in supply chain or operations management roles.
* Proven track record of managing complex material flows in manufacturing environments.
* Strong knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and lean methodologies (JIT, Kanban, 5S).
* Excellent leadership, analytical, and communication skills.