Supply Chain Manager

Job Title: Supply Chain Manager Location: Cambridge – with flexible travel across the UK and Europe Job Type: Full time Industry: Aerospace/Defence | Start-ups & Scale-ups Reports to: Head of Manufacturing For this role... The ideal candidate will have experience coming through the ranks from a manufacturing environment, progressing their career from buying, purchasing, procurement and into supply chain that has good knowledge of the whole manufacturing process, or is a qualified engineer themselves. You will have a good understanding of budgeting, commercials, forecasting and MRP management, and a bonus if you have come from a start-up or scale-up company, ideally from automotive, aerospace or electronic component manufacturing. About the Role... We are seeking an experienced and strategic Supply Chain Manager to lead and develop our end-to-end supply chain function, with a strong emphasis on building the department from the ground up. The successful candidate will bring hands-on experience in establishing scalable supply chain processes, teams, and systems within fast-paced, high-growth environments, particularly in start-up and scale-up settings. This role will be instrumental in designing and executing our supply chain strategy across direct and indirect procurement, while ensuring efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with the operational needs of the business. Key Responsibilities Department Leadership & Development Build and lead the supply chain function from scratch, including setting up processes, systems, KPIs, and internal controls. Recruit, train, and manage supply chain and procurement personnel as the business scales. Define and implement best practices in procurement, logistics, inventory, and stores operations. Procurement Management (Direct & Indirect) Lead sourcing and procurement activities for direct materials, indirect goods, and services. Develop procurement strategies that align with company goals, budget constraints, and regulatory compliance. Supplier Management Drive supplier selection, qualification, onboarding, and ongoing performance management. Lead long-term and short-term commercial negotiations to secure competitive pricing and strong service-level agreements. Cost Optimisation Identify and execute cost-saving initiatives through strategic sourcing, demand management, and process efficiency. Forecasting & Planning Collaborate with internal stakeholders to develop accurate demand forecasts and ensure material availability. Integrate forecasting into procurement and stock planning systems to support operational continuity. BOM Analysis & Alignment Conduct deep-dive analysis of Bills of Materials to optimise sourcing and validate costing accuracy. Work closely with engineering and manufacturing teams to support product lifecycle requirements. Inventory & Stores Control Oversee all aspects of inventory management, including stock accuracy, safety stock, and turnover. Implement robust stores control procedures and continuous improvement measures. Compliance & Standards Ensure adherence to applicable industry standards and regulations (e.g., AS9100, ISO, MOD/defence procurement protocols). Qualifications & Experience Essential: 5–7+ years of progressive supply chain and procurement experience. Proven experience in building a supply chain function or department from the ground up. Strong background in start-up and scale-up environments. Industry expertise in defence, automotive, and/or aerospace sectors. Track record in direct and indirect procurement, supplier management, negotiation, and cost optimisation. Experience in forecasting, BOM analysis, stock management, and stores operations. Desirable: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field. Professional certifications (e.g., CIPS, APICS, Lean Six Sigma). ERP/MRP system proficiency (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite). Key Skills: Department setup and strategic leadership End-to-end supply chain and procurement Supplier development and contract negotiation Inventory planning and stores control BOM analysis and cost control Process design and operational scaling Strong analytical and interpersonal skills Agile mindset and adaptability to change