Supply Chain Lead

Supply Chain Lead

Permanent | £47,400 – £58,000

UK Citizenship Required | Hybrid | Cheltenham

Travel: Approximately 10%

We’re partnering with a leading organisation operating across complex Defence and mission-critical programmes to appoint an experienced Supply Chain Lead.

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded supply chain professional to take ownership of supplier performance, procurement strategy and operational effectiveness across highly complex programmes.

You’ll play a key role in developing and maintaining a sustainable, high-performing supply chain, working closely with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to ensure customer requirements are met while protecting the commercial and financial interests of the business.

The Opportunity

As Supply Chain Lead, you’ll provide senior supply chain support across a range of programmes, helping to shape procurement strategy, optimise spend and strengthen supplier performance.

You’ll be responsible for identifying suitable suppliers, leading negotiations and tendering activity, managing commercial relationships and ensuring risks across the supply chain are proactively identified and addressed.

This is a broad, hands-on role covering areas including demand forecasting, material sourcing, purchase order management, scheduling, inventory control and supplier performance.

You’ll work within a complex, highly regulated environment supporting programmes where quality, delivery, cost and operational resilience are critical.

Key Responsibilities

You’ll play a key role in ensuring effective supply chain delivery by:

• Providing senior supply chain support across programmes, aligned to business and customer requirements.
• Identifying and evaluating suitable suppliers for programme goods and services.
• Leading negotiation and tendering strategies to secure best value and reliable delivery.
• Managing supplier performance across pricing, quality, availability, delivery and risk.
• Building and maintaining strong, collaborative supplier relationships.
• Monitoring supply chain risks, including obsolescence, availability and delivery issues.
• Escalating and resolving supplier concerns where required.
• Supporting demand forecasting, procurement planning, material sourcing and scheduling.
• Managing subcontract negotiations and supporting effective subcontract performance.
• Reviewing and contributing to proposals and commercial submissions.
• Tracking key supplier performance measures and identifying opportunities to improve supply chain effectiveness.

About You

You’ll have strong experience operating within a supply chain or procurement environment, with the commercial awareness and stakeholder-management skills required to work effectively across complex programmes.

You will also have:

• A degree qualification or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience working within a supply chain or procurement function.
• Strong construction procurement experience.
• Experience working with NEC3 and/or NEC4 contracts within construction.
• Demonstrable experience in subcontract negotiation and management.
• Experience reviewing and contributing to proposals.
• Strong supplier and stakeholder relationship-management skills.
• A good understanding of supply chain operations and opportunities for efficiency improvement.
• Knowledge of contract and subcontract law.
• Strong negotiation, problem-solving and commercial decision-making skills.

Experience within Defence, engineering or other complex project environments would be highly advantageous.

We welcome applications from candidates who may not meet every preferred requirement but can demonstrate strong transferable experience and the potential to succeed in the role.

Security Clearance

Due to the nature of the work, applicants must be UK nationals and must be able to gain and maintain SC-level UK Government security clearance.

Why Apply?

This is a fantastic opportunity to take on a key supply chain position supporting complex, high-profile programmes where your work will directly influence commercial performance, supplier resilience and successful delivery.

In return, you’ll benefit from:

• Salary of £47,400 – £58,000
• Flexible and hybrid working options.
• Optional compressed fortnight working.
• Private healthcare.
• Cash health plan.
• Holiday buy and sell scheme.
• Performance-related bonus opportunities.
• Structured career-development programmes.
• Access to mentoring and professional-development opportunities.
• The opportunity to work across complex, mission-critical programmes within a highly collaborative environment.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

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