Yolk Recruitment Ltd
Supply Chain Manager
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Supply Chain Manager - Maternity Cover, minimum 9 months
Location: Bedwas, Caerphilly
Salary: Negotiable for the right person
Start Date: ASAP
Yolk Recruitment is working with an established and highly successful manufacturing and distribution business to recruit an experienced Supply Chain Manager for a 9-month minimum maternity cover contract.
This is a key leadership position with responsibility for the end-to-end supply chain operation, including Procurement, inventory management, demand forecasting, supplier performance, and inbound logistics. Working within a business that sources products and materials globally and supplies customers across a broad and varied product portfolio, you will ensure the organisation maintains the right stock, at the right levels, while balancing customer demand, availability, cost, and working capital.
You will lead and develop the Procurement team, build strong relationships with global suppliers, and work closely with Sales, Marketing, and Operations to improve forecasting, identify future demand, and ensure stock availability supports both day-to-day operations and major commercial opportunities.
The business needs somebody who can join as soon as possible, quickly understand the existing supply chain, and provide confident leadership and continuity throughout the contract.
Supply Chain Manager Responsibilities:
- Lead, coach, and support the Procurement team, allocating workload and maintaining strong team performance.
- Manage the end-to-end supply chain strategy, continually identifying opportunities to improve processes, performance, and efficiency.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with UK and international suppliers, ensuring reliable supply, quality, and service.
- Develop and execute supplier negotiation strategies, securing competitive pricing and favourable commercial terms.
- Analyse historical sales, demand patterns, forecasts, and market trends to support effective purchasing and inventory decisions.
- Work closely with Sales and Marketing to develop and continually refine inventory forecasts in response to changing customer demand.
- Establish and maintain appropriate safety stock levels and product mixes, ensuring availability while minimising excess inventory.
- Take ownership of inventory levels and value, identifying overstock and understock risks and implementing corrective actions.
- Support New Product Introduction (NPI) and core product lines, ensuring appropriate forecasting, purchasing, and stock availability.
- Partner with Sales, Marketing, and Operations to ensure stock and supply plans support major customer requirements and commercial opportunities.
- Monitor supplier and supply chain performance, identifying potential risks and implementing appropriate contingency or corrective actions.
- Manage relationships and performance across shipping agents, freight forwarders, and hauliers, ensuring inbound goods are received accurately and within required timescales.
- Identify and deliver cost-saving opportunities across procurement, freight, inventory, and the wider supply chain.
- Develop and monitor relevant supply chain KPIs, using data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
- Promote strong communication across Procurement, Sales, Marketing, and Operations, ensuring teams remain aligned on forecasts, stock requirements, and priorities.
- Drive continuous improvement across supply chain processes, systems, and ways of working.
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The Experience You'll Bring:
- Previous experience within a Supply Chain Manager, Procurement Manager, Purchasing Manager, or similar senior supply chain position.
- Strong experience within a manufacturing, distribution, logistics, or product-based environment.
- Experience leading and developing a Procurement or Purchasing team.
- Strong supplier management and negotiation experience, ideally working with international suppliers.
- Good understanding of demand planning, forecasting, inventory management, and safety stock.
- Experience managing stock levels and balancing product availability against inventory value and working capital.
- Strong commercial awareness with experience identifying cost-saving and process improvement opportunities.
- Understanding of international freight, shipping, and inbound logistics would be highly advantageous.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales, inventory, and forecasting data to make informed decisions.
- Confident working cross-functionally with departments including Sales, Marketing, and Operations.
- Able to quickly understand an established operation and confidently take ownership within an interim environment.
- Highly organised, resilient, and comfortable managing multiple priorities within a fast-paced business.
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Benefits:
- Minimum 9-month fixed-term contract, covering maternity leave
- 25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays
- Up to 4 additional days for Christmas shutdown
- Option to purchase an additional 3 days' annual leave
- Company profit-sharing scheme based on business performance
- Salary sacrifice pension scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Access to digital GP appointments and medical professionals
- Established, successful organisation with a global supplier and customer network
- Immediate start available
Are you ready to make an impact?
This role would suit an experienced Supply Chain professional who enjoys leading teams, improving supplier performance, managing inventory, and working cross-functionally to keep operations running smoothly.
If you're looking to join a successful manufacturing and distribution business where you can take ownership of a complex supply chain, influence commercial performance, and make a genuine impact during an important period for the business, we'd love to hear from you.
Please note: Due to high application volumes, we can't respond to every applicant. If you haven't heard from us within 7 days, unfortunately, you've not been successful on this occasion. Please check our website for other opportunities.
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