Supply Chain Director

Heroux-Devtek, the world’s 3rd largest producer of landing gear, serves the civil and military aerospace markets from production facilities in North America and Europe. The Company’s longevity, flexibility, and track record for the development and implementation of innovative production systems have distinguished it as a leader in the domain. With its most recent acquisitions, Heroux-Devtek is bolstering its status as one of the foremost landing gear, actuation and hydraulic system designers and manufacturers in the global aerospace industry.

Division info:

Located in Runcorn, United Kingdom, our newly extended 120,000 sq. ft. facility is a fully integrated site offering comprehensive manufacturing, repair, and overhaul services to the major players in the landing gear industry. Designated as a Center of Excellence, the facility specializes in surface treatment and assembly of small to medium sized landing gear systems.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice President General Manager, the UK Supply Chain Director is responsible for leading all aspects of the business’ supply chain function, ensuring the successful delivery of business objectives through operational excellence, supplier performance, risk management, commercial effectiveness, and organisational capability.

The role provides strategic and operational leadership across Tactical Procurement, Indirect Procurement, Commodity Management, Pricing, Expediting, Supplier Development, Supplier Risk Management, Supplier Transfers, Data Analytics, and Process Automation. The incumbent will be accountable for ensuring material availability, optimising supplier performance, managing supply chain risk, delivering cost improvement initiatives, and building a resilient, scalable supply chain capable of supporting current and future business requirements.

As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the UK Supply Chain Director will lead the development of people, processes, systems, and supplier partnerships to create a high-performing supply chain organisation that consistently delivers improvements in service, quality, cost, and delivery performance. The role requires a highly visible leader who can effectively balance strategic thinking with operational execution while driving a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and ownership.

Key Responsibilities

Supply Chain Leadership

• Lead and develop a multi-disciplinary supply chain organisation encompassing Tactical Procurement, Indirect Procurement, Commodity Management, Pricing, Expediting, Supplier Development, Supplier Risk Management, Data & Automation, and Supplier Transfer activities.
• Build a culture of accountability, ownership, collaboration, customer focus, and continuous improvement.
• Establish clear objectives, performance expectations, and development plans across the function.
• Coach, mentor, and develop future leaders while strengthening overall team capability and succession planning.
• Drive organisational effectiveness through role clarity, standard work, performance management, and capability development.

Operational Supply Chain Performance

• Ensure uninterrupted supply of materials, products, and services required to support business and customer commitments.
• Lead recovery and improvement initiatives to address shortages, late deliveries, supplier constraints, and supply interruptions.
• Establish effective governance, escalation, and execution processes to improve operational performance.
• Monitor and improve key supply chain metrics including on-time delivery, supplier performance, inventory health, shortages, lead times, and working capital.
• Drive operational discipline and execution excellence through structured management routines and performance reviews.

Procurement & Commodity Management

• Develop and implement procurement strategies aligned to business objectives and growth plans.
• Lead commodity management activities to optimise cost, quality, delivery, capacity, and supplier performance.
• Oversee strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier selection processes, negotiations, and contract management.
• Drive productivity, cost reduction, and value creation initiatives across direct and indirect spend categories.
• Ensure robust governance, commercial compliance, and contractual protections are maintained across the supplier base.

Indirect Procurement

• Lead the procurement of indirect goods and services, ensuring value for money and alignment with business requirements.
• Establish sourcing strategies and supplier relationships that support operational efficiency and cost competitiveness.
• Drive standardisation, spend visibility, and procurement governance across indirect categories.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to support business projects, capital investments, and service procurement requirements.

Pricing & Commercial Management

• Provide leadership and governance for pricing activities supporting customer proposals, bids, and business opportunities.
• Ensure accurate supplier cost forecasting and commercial inputs to support business planning.
• Drive supplier productivity commitments and cost competitiveness initiatives.
• Support financial planning, budgeting, and cost management activities across the division.

Supplier Performance & Development

• Establish and lead a structured supplier performance management programme focused on quality, delivery, responsiveness, innovation, and cost competitiveness.
• Develop supplier improvement plans and oversee corrective actions for underperforming suppliers.
• Build strategic relationships with key suppliers while maintaining clear accountability for performance expectations.
• Lead supplier development activities to improve supplier capability, capacity, operational maturity, and long-term resilience.
• Support suppliers in achieving sustainable performance improvements through collaborative improvement initiatives.

Supplier Risk & Resilience

• Establish and maintain a comprehensive supplier risk management framework.
• Identify, assess, monitor, and mitigate supplier risks including operational, financial, geopolitical, capacity, quality, compliance, and continuity risks.
• Develop contingency plans and dual-source strategies to strengthen supply resilience.
• Ensure critical risks are appropriately escalated and managed through effective governance processes.

Supplier Transfers & Supply Base Optimisation

• Lead supplier transfer, localisation, dual-source, and new supplier introduction projects.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Operations, and Programme teams to ensure successful supplier transitions.
• Drive supply base optimisation initiatives to improve resilience, competitiveness, quality, and cost performance.
• Ensure robust project management and business continuity throughout supplier transfer activities.

Data, Systems & Automation

• Champion the use of data-driven decision making throughout the supply chain organisation.
• Lead the development of supply chain analytics, KPIs, dashboards, and management reporting.
• Drive automation initiatives that improve efficiency, visibility, data quality, and organisational effectiveness.
• Work closely with digital and IT teams to optimise supply chain systems, tools, and processes.
• Leverage technology and automation to eliminate non-value-added activities and improve operational performance.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner closely with Operations, Programmes, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Commercial teams to support business objectives.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership regarding supply chain risks, opportunities, and performance.
• Contribute to strategic planning and business growth initiatives.
• Represent Supply Chain at executive reviews, customer engagements, and leadership forums.

Key Success Measures

• Supplier on-time delivery performance.
• Material availability and shortage reduction.
• Cost reduction and productivity achievement.
• Supplier quality improvement.
• Inventory optimisation and working capital performance.
• Successful execution of supplier transfer projects.
• Supply chain risk mitigation effectiveness.
• Automation and process improvement delivery.
• Organisational capability development.
• Employee engagement and retention.
• Overall supply chain performance against business objectives.

Candidate Profile

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related discipline.
• Professional supply chain or procurement qualifications are desirable.

Experience

• Significant leadership experience within a complex manufacturing, aerospace, defence, industrial, or highly regulated environment.
• Proven success leading Procurement and Supply Chain organisations at a senior level.
• Demonstrated experience improving operational performance and leading organisational change.
• Strong background in supplier management, procurement, supply chain operations, and risk management.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and influencing executive stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success delivering cost, quality, delivery, and productivity improvements.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of end-to-end supply chain and procurement disciplines.
• Commercially astute with advanced negotiation and supplier management capabilities.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent leadership, coaching, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience implementing data-led operating models, reporting tools, and automation solutions.
• Ability to operate effectively at both strategic and operational levels.
• Strong programme and change management capability.

Leadership Expectations

The successful candidate will be recognised as a visible, credible, and engaging leader who:

• Creates clarity and direction.
• Develops people and builds organisational capability.
• Drives accountability and execution.
• Champions continuous improvement.
• Makes decisions based on data and facts.
• Builds strong internal and external relationships.
• Leads through influence and collaboration.
• Delivers sustainable improvements in business performance.

Role Purpose

To build and lead a high-performing supply chain organisation that delivers resilient supply, exceptional supplier performance, operational excellence, commercial value, and sustained business improvement through great people, disciplined processes, effective technology, and strong supplier partnerships.

What we offer?

• Competitive salaries tied to performance, reviewed annually
• Standard 37-hour week with an early finish every Friday.
• Competitive holiday entitlement of 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Generous group pension plan with up to 7.5% employer contribution
• Life Assurance 4 x salary
• Company funded medical benefits package from day one
• Access to retail and gym discounts
• Loyalty bonuses
• Supportive environment where you can learn and grow
• A culture where diversity is valued, empowering individuals to contribute positively to the organization's success.
• Team Building social events

Héroux-Devtek aims to grow as an industry by meeting customer expectations through the dedication and commitment of its people. Heroux-Devtek emphasizes a culture cantered on the "4 Rs": Respect, Responsibility, Recognition, and Resilience. This entails fostering quality relationships with customers, colleagues, and suppliers, ensuring quality

delivery and fairness, acknowledging employee achievements, and promoting flexibility, openness, and tenacity among employees. This approach contributes to a stable workforce and reinforces an entrepreneurial spirit, guiding employees towards shared objectives.

Equal Opportunity to Employees: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any of these characteristics.

User privacy is paramount, we are committed to safeguarding your personal data in compliance with GDPR regulation.