Head of Supply Chain

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The Pilot Group - Head of Supply Chain

Our businesses cover electrical wholesale, energy management, and traffic control systems, working across a wide range of commercial and industrial applications. This role sits specifically in ESL, one of the businesses that make up the group - they are in essence a global trading business.

ESL connects the demand and supply of electrical components. As the world shifts to a more electric future, ESL helps customers procure their needs in this space by thinking and operating differently.

The company joins supply chains together in a simple and easy-to-deliver way. We operate globally, offering fast deliveries and making things easy for our customers and our suppliers, developing long-term relationships with them.

ESL is headquartered in Manchester and operates with a strong international presence. It was founded by two female entrepreneurs 17 years ago (both are still in the business) and the company has 75 amazing people with brilliant skills.

We are now on a journey to build on this fabulous platform to create an even more connected and automated environment that delivers outstanding service to our chosen markets.

Purpose of the Role - Head of Supply Chain

The role is a key member of the ESL Management Team responsible for leading the strategic development of the Supply Chain and Logistics functions.

We are very proud of where our business has grown from, but as we scale, we would like someone to bring best practice experience to establish optimum operating practices across our Buying, Warehousing, and Shipping Teams.

Key to success will be someone who can demonstrate previous transformation of working practices through strategic initiatives, streamlined processes, enhanced operational efficiency, and optimisation of cost-effectiveness with strong stakeholder management skills to drive any associated change.

We are a small but growing team; therefore, we are looking for a candidate who has the strategic vision, along with being hands-on across all areas of the process, and can find the best fit for purpose solutions to meet our business ambition. This suggests that someone with medium-sized business experience would be the best fit; however, finding the right candidate is our priority.

As we grow, this is a really exciting time to join the team, and this role of shaping a key part of our business will be critical in reaching our growth ambitions in the quickest time possible.

You Will Be Accountable For:

• Operational execution of the monthly forecast and contribution to the annual business plan achieving sales volumes, cost budgets, service, and quality requirements in all facilities.
• Full responsibility for operational management of the UK warehouse facility including all site matters.
• Managing relationships with our overseas 3PLs including performance management.
• Ensuring the stock management (purchasing and management) strategy aligns with sales and purchasing strategies.
• A robust and efficient shipping and logistics structure driving lead times at the best value for money.

Key Responsibilities for the Head of Supply Chain (Applies to UK and overseas 3PL warehouses):

• Work with the Managing Director and Leadership Team to develop and execute the budget and 3 Year Plan and review on an annual basis ensuring that it aligns with business objectives - this includes driving cost efficiency, quality, and improving service levels.
• Manage supplier relationships across our supply chain - this includes the identification, performance review, and management of our warehouse and 3PLs to ensure that we are getting the best service and value for money.
• End-to-End shipping management: Cost-effective management of shipping strategy to maximise margin aligned with customer delivery expectations.
• Strategic stock management: Implementation of a robust and fit for purpose stock strategy that supports sales expansion whilst minimising aged stock/cost of holding stock.
• Robust cost control: Establish monitoring mechanisms to manage cost of stock and delivery.
• Data-Driven: Implementation of core KPIs/metrics to monitor performance, make decisions, and drive results.
• Team Management: Lead and inspire your teams across buying, shipping, and warehousing driving collaboration with the wider business (Ensure process and standards are adhered to and continually improved).
• Management of key processes:
• Inbound shipping
• Stock Receipt to Supplier Payment
• Order pick to Customer Payment
• Outbound shipping
• Develop, implement and review KPIs and Reports to ensure our business plan objectives are achieved on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
• Attend and actively participate in daily, weekly, and monthly meetings with our warehouses, internal stakeholders, and ESL Leadership Team.
• Ensure the customer journey is seamless - identify and resolve any supply chain issues/blockers - ensuring root cause analysis and corrective actions are completed.
• Manage stock accuracy - ensuring cycle counts are conducted and recorded, and that root cause and corrective action reviews are in place for any stock differences.
• Manage 3PL Warehouse Costs in line with budgets and contracts ensuring both value and service criteria are achieved and maintained - Check and approve all warehousing invoices from our 3PLs, ensuring their invoicing is accurate, any anomalies are challenged and cost-saving savings are constantly sought after.
• Oversee all activity between the warehouses and our internal departments (such as our UK Warehouse & Stock Control, Sales, Purchasing & Shipping teams) ensuring processes operate effectively with any queries/issues being resolved in a timely and satisfactory manner.
• Development and implementation of continuous improvement activity addressing Quality, Cost, Delivery, and People metrics.

Essential Experience:

• Experience in a medium-sized business of leading a team whilst also being hands-on.
• Experience of reviewing and establishing new working practices and processes employing best practice that is fit for purpose.
• Exemplary stakeholder management skills and ability to drive a strategy that supports wider business growth.
• Pragmatic and solutions-focused.
• Experience of working internationally and with a good working knowledge of tariffs.
• Great team leadership and development skills.
• Systems expertise: Experience of working with 3PL system integrations.

Desired:

• MCIPS qualified.

Recruitment Agencies:

The Pilot Group operates a strict PSL and will not accept any unsolicited CVs sent to any member, employee, representative, or business unit of the Pilot Group. Any unsolicited introduction will be treated as a CV 'sent in kind' and as such The Pilot Group rejects all liability to pay any such fees for an unsolicited introduction.

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