Supply Chain Director

Job Description : SUPPLY CHAIN DIRECTOR LEEDS UK Open to suitably qualified overseas candidates as the Supply Chain Director you will lead the development, implementation, standardisation, and continuous improvement of IPL’s planning processes. This pivotal role involves overseeing the Planning teams across multiple locations in Europe, optimising our supply chain operations, fostering collaboration between departments, and maximising efficiency and customer satisfaction. This role will be based in the UK with the ideal candidate being located in the Midlands between Birmingham / Leeds/ Manchester. The successful candidate will be required to travel to our 7 European site based in the UK, Ireland and Belgium. Develop and implement standardised Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) strategies based around a monthly cadence with a 12-18month horizon, focusing on manufacturing network optimization, future CAPEX needs, inventory levels and sourcing requirements. Establish strategic direction and plans for the Supply Planning team to ensure on-time delivery and maximise operational efficiency. Facilitate cross-functional collaboration between sales, marketing, customer service, production, and procurement teams to align on supply and demand forecasts. Evaluate the demand forecast/production plan against inventory, capacity, and external factors and to create mitigation actions if needed. Manage inventory levels for all sites through regular aged stock reviews, inventory builds for seasonality products, master data and system accuracy. Manage the Demand Planning process, considering business seasonality, production capacity constraints, safety stock levels, historical customer behaviors and future customer forecasts; seek to continuously improve this process. Manage raw materials planning through supply chain coordinators. Identify significant business risks and escalate to the appropriate leadership teams. Coach the teams to manage regular meetings with stakeholders to review S&OP performance, resolve issues, and adjust plans as necessary. Develop and maintain KPIs to measure S&OP & S&OE effectiveness, providing regular reports to the executive team. Continuously assess and improve planning processes to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and increase customer satisfaction. Anticipate and mitigate potential supply chain disruptions, adjusting plans based on global and regional economic factors and industry trends. Strategic analysis of working capital levels across the sites along with identifying aged, slow moving and obsolete inventories and collaborating with the sales team to develop disposition plans. Establish the appropriate organisational structure, resource plans, and culture to align with business objectives and customer needs. Provide leadership, coordination, and coaching to the team, ensuring they are well-trained to achieve operational and financial metrics. Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, or related field, or equivalent operational experience. 5+ years of demonstrated operational experience in S&OP, specifically in manufacturing operations, with a preference in FMCG. Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. Must be an agile leader. Proven track record of implementing process improvements and achieving operational excellence. In-depth knowledge of industry best practices and emerging trends in supply chain management. Experience in supply chain planning within multiple ERP systems; IFS experience is a plus. Proficiency in managing supply operations in multi-site, multi-product manufacturing environments. Advanced data analytic skills, including expertise in analysing data trends, forecasting, and classifying data. Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables and vlook ups, familiarity with Business Analytics and Microsoft Power BI is advantageous. Ability to set strategic direction, develop strategic plans, and lead change management initiatives to achieve success. Commercial and financial acumen, with expertise in multisite P&L management. Proven ability to lead and implement change, structure, and process improvements, fostering continual cultural, technological, and operational transformation. Knowledge of M&A led growth and integration, with experience in conducting global business operations. Effective collaboration and teamwork skills, capable of working across multiple functional areas. Willingness to travel, with an expected commitment of 40% of working time for business-related travel.

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