Head of Supply Chain

We are currently seeking a highly motivated individual who is keen to progress their International Supply Chain Management career.

Brand Hatchers are a fast-growing, innovative, family-owned consumer brands business based in Cardiff with a Dutch and US subsidiary to support our international sales. Our brands are sold online and at retail across UK, USA, EU and the Middle East.

Brand Hatchers Brands:

- Brain Blasterz, the number one sour candy brand at retail across Europe and the Middle East.

Top performers in their categories on Amazon UK, EU and USA:

- Nurture by Nature Botanicals, offering personal care gifting with active botanical ingredients.
- Guitar Lab, offering guitar accessories and gifting.

As Head of Supply Chain, you will be responsible for delivering the ambitious Brand Hatchers business plan through the management of our global supply chain planning, purchasing and distribution processes. Reporting to the MD, you will develop close working relationships with our suppliers to ensure the effective, efficient, and profitable production of current and future product lines.

You will oversee purchasing, production (with third party manufacturers), NPD, demand planning and stock management across three international warehousing sites and scheduling and shipping (to multiple Global destinations) via your direct reports. The role will be critical in supporting future business growth and development with a focus on operational efficiency, driving improved customer service, inventory optimisation and excellent coordination with all appropriate team members.

Our office is based in Cardiff and the role will be able to blend home and office working with 2-3 days in the office each week. There will be occasional overseas travel to our manufacturing partners and international trade shows.

You will need to be passionate about what you do, ensure operations within the Supply Chain Function are always running smoothly at a fast pace which is challenging with today’s current global supply chain issues, but if you are willing to take on that task and thrive in this environment this is the role for you.

The key responsibilities of the Head of Supply Chain are:

- Managing and developing key suppliers and stakeholder relationships that build long term, efficient and profitable partnerships
- Identifying and qualifying new suppliers in collaboration with other team members
- Creating robust supply chain solutions to enable Brand Hatchers’ growth strategies and goals
- Inspiring and engaging your own direct reports and operating as an influencer for change, cross functionally throughout the business
- Technical functional skills
- with practical experience of implementing process change, coupled with an in-depth knowledge, and understanding of systems, processes and calculations required, building upon, and improving the existing end to end supply chain management process (currently managed through spreadsheets)
- Continuous improvement in technology use
- Negotiating pricing of products/agreements/terms with vendors including regularly reviewing product range and agreements and scoping areas for improvements/cost downs
- Overall operational accountability for purchasing, stock scheduling/demand planning and inbound logistics, focused on driving stock levels to meet both customer and business needs.
- Mitigating the company’s risk exposure to finance, audit, and legal issues through close management of supplier certification, shipping documents, confidentiality agreements etc.
- Ensuring usage of optimal shipment and transportation routes in conjunction with shipping agents
- Continuously driving improvements in processes, procedures, systems, and team structure that can increase efficiency of supply chain and profitability of the company
- Review performance data that includes financial, sales, stock reports and spreadsheets, to monitor and measure effectiveness in the supply chain
- Working on a global scale through our network of suppliers, shipping companies, 3PL providers and customers based across multiple markets ensuring efficiency and profitability

The ideal Supply Chain Manager will have/be:

- Experienced in strategic supply chain planning and operational execution within a fast-moving SME
- Experienced vendor partner manager, ideally with Asian vendors
- Experienced with international logistics, inbound and outbound and 3PL partner management
- A natural team leader, used to prioritising communication, development, motivation, and recognition within your team
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills with a proven ability to create and maintain positive and effective working relationships with vendors, suppliers, shippers, and customers
- Highly organised and rigorous, able to effectively manage multiple projects in parallel at pace for delivery across multiple marketplaces globally
- Exert high energy, drive, and determination