Supply Chain Manager 12-Month Fixed-Term Contract (Maternity Cover) Location: Ashford, Kent
Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 per annum
Hours: 9am - 5pm, office-based
Start Date: Immediate start available About the Opportunity Our client, a precision manufacturing company operating in the regulated supplements sector, is seeking an experienced Supply Chain Manager to take full ownership of their end-to-end supply chain operations during a 12-month maternity cover period. This is a strategically important role where the supply chain drives commercial performance, not simply supports it. You will have genuine influence across Finance, Operations, Sales, Quality, and technical teams, reporting directly to the General Manager. This position requires someone who can make confident decisions, anticipate risk, and understand the wider business implications of every supply chain choice. The Role You will be responsible for ensuring continuity, resilience, and commercial performance across the supply chain, balancing operational delivery with strategic oversight. Success requires understanding how supplier terms affect cash flow, how production planning impacts margin, and how early visibility prevents downstream disruption. Key Responsibilities Take complete ownership of the end-to-end supply chain, ensuring reliability, resilience, and value at every stage Build, manage, and develop strong supplier relationships, driving service excellence and consistent performance Lead supplier tenders and negotiations to secure optimal pricing and protect margins Proactively identify and resolve sourcing challenges, production constraints, and delivery risks before escalation Partner with the Manufacturing Manager to create and maintain efficient production schedules Collaborate with Sales to understand product development pipelines and forward order requirements Work closely with Finance to align purchasing, payment terms, and cash-flow planning Manage forecast invoice sales in line with production plans, ensuring commercial targets are met Liaise with Quality and Technical teams to ensure suppliers meet all regulatory, accreditation, and compliance standards Onboard and qualify new suppliers where risk, capacity, or strategic opportunity is identified De-risk the supply chain through contingency planning, alternative sourcing, and forward-thinking strategies Confidently renegotiate supplier payment terms where commercially necessary Line-manage a Supply Chain Assistant, providing clear direction, accountability, and development opportunities About You You are commercially minded, highly organised, and comfortable operating at the intersection of operations, finance, and strategy. You understand that supply chain decisions have consequences and enjoy being trusted to make the right ones. Essential Requirements: Proven experience at Supply Chain Manager level, ideally within manufacturing, FMCG, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, or other regulated environments Strong commercial acumen with confidence managing forecasts and commercially sensitive conversations Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills with the ability to build strong departmental relationships Decisive, solutions-focused approach with the ability to remain calm under pressure Comfortable challenging assumptions and driving process improvements Advanced Excel skills with strong capability in reporting, analysis, and forward planning What's On Offer A pivotal, respected position within a high-performing senior team Genuine exposure to complex, bespoke manufacturing operations A professional, collaborative environment where your decisions genuinely matter The opportunity to make a meaningful impact during a critical period for the business
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