Job Description
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Supply Chain Manager Location: London, minimum 2 days onsite preferred Type: Permanent Sector: Defence / Aerospace / UAVOverview We are supporting a growing defence engineering business in the unmanned systems sector that is looking to strengthen its supply chain capability as part of a wider scale-up in product delivery and manufacturing readiness. They are seeking a Supply Chain Manager to manage supplier relationships, support sourcing strategy, and drive commercial engagement across a supplier base focused on components and metallic parts. This is a key role for someone who can combine supplier relationship management, commercial awareness, contracts understanding, and client-facing capability in a growing, delivery-driven business.Role Purpose The successful candidate will take ownership of supplier relationships and help build a more robust and scalable supply chain capable of supporting a growing engineering and manufacturing operation. The focus will be on ensuring suppliers can deliver the required quality, cost, and lead-time performance, while also supporting the business in commercial and contractual discussions.Key Responsibilities
- Manage relationships with suppliers providing components, metallic parts, and other key manufacturing inputs
- Develop and maintain a supply chain capable of supporting growth in engineering and production activity
- Work with suppliers to improve delivery performance, responsiveness, quality, and cost
- Support commercial and contractual discussions with suppliers
- Contribute to sourcing strategy and supplier selection
- Act as a key interface between the business and external suppliers
- Work closely with engineering, manufacturing, and programme teams to ensure supplier capability aligns with delivery needs
- Identify supply chain risks and develop mitigation plans
- Help build a more structured supply chain model to support business growth and manufacturing scale-up
- Maintain strong client and stakeholder relationships where supply chain performance has a direct impact on programme delivery
What you will need
- Experience in supply chain, supplier management, procurement, or commercial roles within engineering, aerospace, defence, or manufacturing environments
- Strong experience managing supplier relationships for components and metallic parts
- Commercially aware, with understanding of contracts, supplier negotiations, and delivery risk
- Able to operate confidently with both suppliers and internal stakeholders
- Strong xwzovoh communication and relationship management skills
- Experience in a scaling or fast-paced engineering/manufacturing environment
- Good understanding of how supply chain performance affects programme delivery and client outcomes
Desirable
- Aerospace, defence, UAV, or advanced manufacturing background
- Experience in building or maturing a supply chain function
- Exposure to complex engineering products and lower-volume to scaling production environments
- Understanding of quality and compliance expectations in regulated sectors
Summary This is an exciting opportunity for someone who can help build and manage the supplier ecosystem needed to support a growing unmanned systems business, with a particular focus on components, metallic parts, commercial control, and supplier relationship management.