Head of Supply Chain
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Are you a strategic supply chain leader who thrives on driving performance, improving profitability, and making a real impact? We're looking for an ambitious Head of Supply Chain to take ownership of our end-to-end supply chain operation and play a key role in shaping the future of our business. Reporting directly to the Operations Director, you'll lead everything from procurement and supplier partnerships to warehousing, logistics, and distribution, ensuring a resilient, efficient, and high-performing supply chain. This is an exciting opportunity to influence business strategy, optimise margins, and deliver outstanding customer service by ensuring our products reach customers on time, in full, and to the highest quality standards.
Role Summary
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As Head of Supply Chain, you will lead the end-to-end supply chain, driving operational excellence, material control, and margin improvement across procurement, inventory, warehousing, logistics, and distribution. Working closely with Commercial, Design & Development, and Operations teams, you will use data-driven insights to optimise supplier performance, stock levels, and cost efficiency while ensuring products are delivered on time, in full, and to the highest quality standards. You will also lead and develop the supply chain team, champion continuous improvement and sustainability initiatives, and build a resilient supply chain that supports the company's long-term growth.
Salary DOE
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- Cost Control & Margin Improvement: Lead detailed margin analysis by continuously evaluating Standard Cost vs. Actual Cost. Utilising Pareto (80/20) analysis, isolate and target the most impactful opportunities to improve overall margins.
- Profitability Strategy: Generate data-driven recommendations to drive margin growth through raw material cost reductions, manufacturing efficiency gains, waste reduction, or strategic recommendations on sales price adjustments.
- Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP): Establish and lead regular S&OP reviews with the commercial team. Utilise commercial pipeline data and forecasts to directly inform procurement decisions, optimise stocking levels, and guide supplier selection.
- Cross-Functional Supplier Selection: Partner in close liaison with the Design & Development team during the supplier selection process to ensure that new vendors can meet aesthetic, structural, and material specifications while adhering to target standard costs and scaling requirements.
- End-to-End Material Control: Oversee the entire material lifecycle. Establish robust inventory control systems to manage raw materials, Work-in-Progress (WIP), and finished goods across multiple locations to eliminate bottlenecks and stockouts.
- Procurement & Strategic Sourcing: Lead the sourcing of high-quality raw materials (timber, textiles, hardware). Manage the purchasing budget and implement strategies to secure cost-effective, high-quality supply lines.
- Supplier Management, Evaluation & Auditing: Develop a rigorous framework for supplier selection, onboarding, and continuous evaluation. Conduct regular supplier audits to ensure compliance with quality standards, ethical practices, sustainability and delivery reliability.
- Warehousing & Inventory Optimisation: Manage warehouse operations, layout optimization, and material handling processes to ensure maximum efficiency, accuracy, and safety.
- Logistics & Distribution: Oversee domestic and international freight, customs, and final distribution channels. Coordinate seamlessly with logistics partners to optimize delivery routes and reduce transit times.
- OTIF Delivery Performance: Act as the final guardian of the customer experience by ensuring all orders are fulfilled, dispatched, and delivered to the customer exactly on time and in full.
- Team Leadership & Development: Directly manage, mentor, and develop an initial team of two direct reports, with a view to scaling the team as manufacturing operations grow.
- Sustainability: Drive initiatives to reduce material waste, optimise carbon impact, and source sustainable/certified materials (e.g., FSC-certified wood) in line with company values.
You need
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- 7+ years in end-to-end supply chain management, with at least 3 years in a manufacturing environment (furniture, home goods, or large-format consumer goods preferred).
- Proven experience operating as a direct report to senior operations leadership, with the ability to manage, coach, and build an efficient, lean team
- Demonstrated experience collaborating with Design & Development teams to source components and select suppliers for New Product Introductions (NPI) without compromising quality or intent.
- Proven ability to bridge operations and commercial divisions through formal Sales & Operations Planning processes to optimize stock and procurement.
- Strong proficiency in Standard vs. Actual cost variance analysis and using Pareto analysis to isolate and target cost-saving opportunities.
- Proven track record of implementing strict material control, material requirements planning (MRP), and inventory reduction strategies.
- Strong experience in formal supplier evaluation, contract negotiation, and conducting on-site supplier performance audits.
- Deep expertise with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Winman) and advanced inventory management software.
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business Administration, or related field. Industry certifications such as CPIM, CSCP, or Lean Six Sigma (desirable but not essential).
You need to be
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- A strategic thinker who can see the bigger picture while maintaining focus on operational performance and delivery.
- A strong leader who inspires, develops, and empowers teams to achieve ambitious goals.
- Commercially aware with the ability to balance cost, quality, service, and risk in decision-making.
- Data-driven and analytical, using insight to identify opportunities, solve problems, and drive continuous improvement.
- A confident communicator and influencer who can build strong relationships with stakeholders, suppliers, and colleagues at all levels.
- Resilient and proactive, able to adapt to changing priorities and lead effectively through challenges and periods of growth.
Why Modus?
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At Modus we offer more than just a job - we provide a vibrant work environment nestled in a beautiful rural location with a custom-built workspace designed to inspire creativity and collaboration. Powered by 100% renewable electricity, our state-of-the-art factory, houses both our upholstery and joinery facilities where our teams employ a combination of digital technology and age-old hand finishing techniques to create furniture of the highest level of craft and quality. Enjoy the fresh air and scenic surroundings as you work alongside a passionate and supportive team. We believe in creating a balanced and engaging workplace, with regular social events and activities that foster a strong sense of community.
If you value a great work environment and are eager to contribute to a company that prioritises both professional growth and employee well-being, we’d love to have you on board.
We welcome applications from everyone, especially individuals who are underrepresented in our industry. We understand and value the strength that diversity brings to our business, and we believe in creating an inclusive environment where everyone can be heard and valued.
- We are proud to be a B Corp certified company & Living Wage accredited.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- Flexitime
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Private medical insurance
- Sick pay
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Chard TA20 4BY: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- Supply chain management: 5 years (required)
- Manufacturing: 3 years (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
