Supply Chain Manager

Job title: Supply Chain Manager                

Location: Ashford, Kent                       

Company: QinetiQ Target Systems

Salary: Competitive

Hours: 37 hour per weeks, flexible hybrid working

About the role

We are currently recruiting a Supply Chain Manager to join QinetiQ Target Systems (QTS) within our Operations Team. QTS is a wholly owned subsidiary of QinetiQ Group PLC specialising in the design and manufacture of a range of state-of-the-art Unmanned Aerial and Surface Target systems including the world leading Banshee target.

QTS targets are used to enable realistic weapons test and evaluation and operator training in over 40 countries worldwide with QTS providing a complete managed service in over 15 of these countries.

What will I be doing?

Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will be responsible for the identification, engagement, onboarding and ongoing management of suppliers supporting the manufacture of products in both the Ashford, UK and Medicine Hat, AB, Canada facilities. Providing a strategic view of future requirements of the supply chain to support the growth of the organisation.

Duties will include:

• Design the supply chain. Ensure a robust supply chain is available to the business which has sufficient capacity and capability to support current and future order fulfilment. This includes the development of existing suppliers for new products and the introduction of new suppliers for existing products.
• Identification and mitigation of risk. Be a key contributor to the organisational business continuity plan.
• Leverage technical expertise within the business ensuring continual improvement in the supply chain. Spearhead and manage the evaluation of Root Causes through proven problem-solving methods, to resolve and provide sustainable solutions to supplier problems releasing roadblocks in delivery.
• Supply Chain Quarterly Business Review management. Routine collation of data, conduct of review meetings with key suppliers, action management and closure.
• Provide NPI oversight within the supply chain. Pulling on technical resource within the business, ensure smooth introduction of new designs within the supply chain and proactive management of obsolescence and availability constraints.
• Ensure supplier adherence to company procurement Terms & Conditions (T&Cs) and where applicable Service Level Agreements (SLA). In collaboration with commercial function, ensure the organisation is best served and suitably protected through T&Cs/SLAs. Provide oversight and corrective action where required ensuring supplier alignment.
• Instigate make or buy evaluations pulling on resource from engineering, finance and commercial where required. Ensure a defined process is followed during the evaluation process.
• Support the organisation in implementing and adherence to policies, standards, laws, and regulations.
• Support company Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policy adherence.
• Ability to train, mentor and guide employees.

Some travel throughout the UK, Europe, North America and Australia will be required.

What do I need?

You will be degree educated, or have equivalent experience in business, supply chain or operations management and have a minimum of 5 years of operations/manufacturing experience, preferably within the electronics, aviation or defence sectors.

You’ll have excellent communication skills, strong interpersonal skills and working knowledge of LEAN tools and techniques.

We also ask that you have:

• demonstrable experience of using problem solving techniques (5Y, 8D).
• working knowledge of Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001:2015) and Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001:2015)
• demonstrated results when negotiating and managing high-value, complex projects.
• Strong numeric skills and are financially astute.

The following would be a distinct advantage:

• Supply Chain accreditations CIPS, SCMP, MCIPS, ISM or similar
• Working knowledge of Lean6σ
• Complimentary experience in a production or engineering role
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings.
• Procurement of complex electro-mechanical assembly
• International procurement, including intra-company.

What else do I need to know?

Joining QinetiQ offers you an opportunity to work on a broad range of exciting defence-based projects, with vast career progression across a global organisation, in addition to strong personal and professional benefits.

You’ll receive a generous salary and benefits package: our basic salaries are very attractive, as we constantly review what’s happening in the market.

The range of benefits we offer include adaptive and flexible / hybrid working, ample holiday entitlements, generous employer pension contributions, enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay, and the ability to purchase discounted Health Cash Plans, Private Medical Insurance, and Dental Insurance, plus much more.