Supply Chain Team Leader

Supply Chain Team Leader
Location: Horsham
Salary: £53,000 – £55,000 per annum
Contract: Full-time, Permanent 37.5hoursp/w

We are seeking an experienced Supply Chain Team Leader to join a manufacturing and engineering organisation in Horsham. Reporting to the Supply Chain & Continuous Improvement Manager, you will lead a team of Buyers and work closely with Suppliers, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Finance and Programme Management teams.
This is a hands-on leadership role focused on improving cost, quality, delivery, supply continuity and working capital, while developing a high-performing procurement team and embedding a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a team of Buyers to deliver supply chain strategy, policies and processes.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear SMART objectives aligned with business and functional KPIs.
• Drive improvements in supplier performance across cost, quality, delivery and working capital.
• Build strong supplier and internal stakeholder relationships to ensure continuity of supply.
• Identify, assess and mitigate supply chain risks, escalating issues and implementing recovery plans.
• Resolve operational procurement issues using a data-driven and quality-focused approach.
• Communicate risks, impacts and recovery plans clearly to key stakeholders.
• Manage individual and team performance through objective setting, reviews, feedback and development planning.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance supply chain efficiency, resilience and compliance.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies, governance requirements, regulations and ethical sourcing standards.
• Promote collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement across the Supply Chain function and Integrated Portfolio Teams.
• Work closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Finance and Programme Management to support business delivery.

Key Performance Indicators

• Annual cost savings achieved.
• Supplier on-time delivery performance.
• Supplier quality performance.
• Contract and policy compliance.
• Supply continuity and risk mitigation.
• Supplier performance improvement.
• Inventory optimisation and working capital management.

Skills and Experience
Essential

• Proven experience in a supply chain, procurement or purchasing leadership role within manufacturing or engineering.
• Experience leading, coaching and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong understanding of supplier performance management, strategic sourcing, inventory management and working capital optimisation.
• Proven experience improving supplier quality, cost, delivery and service performance.
• Excellent stakeholder-management and influencing skills.
• Results-focused approach with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver against KPIs.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Experience using ERP systems and Microsoft Excel for procurement analysis, reporting and supplier performance management.

Desirable

• CIPS qualification, ideally Level 4 or above, or a relevant degree.
• Experience within manufacturing, defence, engineering or another industrial environment.
• Knowledge of supplier risk management and sustainability initiatives.
• Experience working within Integrated Project Management Teams or a matrix organisation.
• Understanding of ethical sourcing and responsible procurement practices.

About You
You will be a commercially aware and collaborative supply chain professional with the confidence to lead a team, influence suppliers and work across multiple business functions. You will be comfortable using data to identify improvement opportunities, managing supply chain risks and turning strategy into measurable results.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced procurement or supply chain leader to take ownership of supplier performance, develop a high-performing team and contribute to operational and financial performance from a Horsham-based engineering environment.