Position Summary
The Supply Chain Director leads the end-to-end supply chain strategy and operations for an aerospace organisation, ensuring reliable, compliant, and cost-effective sourcing of complex materials, components, and services. This role drives supply chain excellence across procurement, planning, logistics, inventory management, and supplier performance. The Director serves as a key contributor to enterprise strategy, partnering closely with Engineering, Quality, Operations, Program Management, and Finance to support new product development, production ramp-ups, and sustainment programs.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and execute the long-term supply chain strategy aligned with business goals, including globalisation, vertical integration, capacity planning, and supply base optimisation.
- Build a resilient supply chain capable of supporting aerospace regulatory requirements, complex assemblies, long lead items, and program-driven demand variability.
- Lead SIOP/S&OP processes, ensuring accurate demand forecasting, master production scheduling, and capacity alignment across manufacturing and suppliers.
- Drive cost-reduction initiatives, make-vs-buy analyses, and continuous improvement using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies.
Procurement & Supplier Management
- Own the entire procurement lifecycle for direct materials, indirect materials, and strategic services.
- Develop a robust, diversified supplier network that meets aerospace quality standards (AS9100, AS9145, Nadcap).
- Negotiate long-term agreements, pricing structures, partnership frameworks, and risk-sharing arrangements.
- Ensure supplier performance management through scorecards, audits, capability assessments, and continuous improvement programs.
- Manage mitigation strategies for supply disruptions, single-source risks, and obsolescence.
Planning, Inventory & Logistics
- Oversee materials planning, MRP accuracy, inventory control, and optimisation of safety stock levels.
- Lead logistics strategy including inbound/outbound freight, customs compliance, export controls (ITAR/EAR), and packaging of sensitive aerospace components.
- Implement best-in-class warehouse and distribution practices for traceability, environmental control, and configuration management.
- Ensure accurate ERP/MRP system utilisation and support digital transformation initiatives (APS, analytics, automation).
Cross-Functional & Program Support
Collaborate with Engineering and Program Management to support new product introduction, manufacturability reviews, and early supply chain engagement.
Partner with Quality and Compliance teams to ensure all suppliers meet aerospace standards and regulatory requirements.
Support proposal development and customer engagement by providing cost estimates, schedule feasibility, and supply chain risk assessments.
Leadership & Organisational Development
- Build and mentor a high-performance supply chain organisation, including procurement, planners, logistics, and supplier development.
- Define KPIs, dashboards, and governance processes to measure performance (OTD, inventory turns, PPV, supplier quality, lead-time reduction).
- Promote a culture of accountability, innovation, continuous improvement, and ethical behaviour.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field; Master's preferred.
- 10-15+ years of progressive supply chain experience in aerospace, defence, or highly regulated manufacturing.
- Strong knowledge of aerospace quality systems (AS9100, APQP/AS9145, PPAP), configuration management, and regulatory requirements (ITAR, EAR).
- Demonstrated success managing complex global supply chains, long-lead commodities, and build-to-print fabrication.
- Expertise in ERP/MRP systems; experience with SAP, Oracle, or equivalent preferred.
- Proven leadership experience managing multi-disciplinary supply chain teams.
- Exceptional negotiation, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
- Experience with Lean/Kaizen, Six Sigma, or similar operational excellence methodologies.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting aerospace programs such as space systems, aircraft structures, propulsion systems, avionics, or MRO operations.
- Knowledge of advanced manufacturing supply chains (composites, precision machining, additive manufacturing, electronics).
- Certifications such as APICS CPIM/CSCP, ISM CPSM, or PMP.
- Experience supporting both commercial and defence programs.
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