Group Supply Chain Director

Job Description

Group Supply Chain Director:Opportunity BriefFord & Stanley Executive Search (Part of the Ford & Stanley Group) are specialists in Executive Interim and Permanent appointments to the UK, European & North American Engineering, General Manufacturing, Transport & Digital Industries.We have been exclusively entrusted and appointed by SCX Special Projects on a retained search for a Group Supply Chain Director.Below you will find an opportunity brief developed from notes taken during the scoping meetings (Situational Discovery) held between the F&S Business Manager, Research Manager and the SCX Special Projects C-Suite. This brief is designedto give candidates deeper insight into the opportunity inherent within the role, the challenges the role presents and provide access to the detail that sits behind the job specification.Client Opportunity Statement:"SCX Special projects are a specialist engineering business with an impressive track record of exciting engineering projects. Previously family owned, we have recently been acquired by a PE House and are now presented with the opportunity to utiliseinvestment to take the business from good to great.""Imperative to our journey is the hiring of a Group Supply Chain Director, someone who is going to upscale and, in some cases, modernise the supply chain / procurement function by adding sound process, procedures and governance.""The business needs someone who is excited by the opportunity to roll their sleeves up and ensure their visibility is prominent throughout the business and supply chain. The role will involve you upskilling stakeholders throughout the organisation,partnering closely with the supply chain, setting the foundations for a successful supply chain / procurement function, negotiating, dealing with disputes, and managing prices. A real opportunity for someone to put their stamp on the function."The Business:SCX Special ProjectsSCX Special Projects is a £28m turnover business providing bespoke engineering solutions for lifting and mechanical handling challenges. Our customers range from the nuclear and defence sectors, to aerospace and manufacturing, stadia and kinetic architecture,and energy and utilities.What makes SCX Special Projects, special

• Our can-do attitude and relentlessness allows us to deliver, even when the odds are stacked against us.
• We adapt to changes and find safe solutions within cost and time constraints, meeting customer expectations.
• We protect our commercial position AND look after our customers.

Our Vision & Mission

• A world in motion, where engineering innovation creates safer, more productive, more engaging spaces.
• To be the leading engineering solutions innovator in Kenetic architecture, moving structures and advanced mechanical handling.

We are:

• Brave - We deliver on our promises and never back away from a challenge, asking for help early if we think theres a problem. We speak up if we see something unsafe or if someones acting inappropriately.
• Adaptable - Were open to change, we think out of the box and always find a way to deliver.
• Respectful - We embrace diversity, give everyone the chance to contribute and value everyones opinion.

We always:

• Work as one team - We work together to get the job done and assist our colleagues to help meet business priorities.
• Communicate Proactively - We are forward thinking and always respond promptly, raising challenges and opportunities as soon as they are identified.
• Simplify the complex - We seek simple solutions that meet the contracted requirement and manage contracted scope closely.
• Deliver on Time - We make commitments and stick to them in everything we do, both internally and externally.

The OpportunityMain Challenges the role presents:

• The role will require you to establish a strong supply chain / procurement function from the ground up. Although the function currently has 3 buyers within it (With budget for a fourth), there is some work to be done in the context of processes, proceduresand governance. You will be tasked with implementing this foundation alongside communicating the outcome to the wider business and Supply Chain stakeholders.
• In addition to implementing the foundations, processes, procedures and governance within the function you will need to invest significant time into the negotiation of large sub-contracts. The business is currently experiencing some difficulties with resolvingdisputes and negotiating prices.
• Along with fundamental changes to the function the business is undergoing a cultural change. There hasnt been much in the way of change to processes for 30 years and although there is significant appetite within the teams for improvement and progressionthey lack direction and understanding at times. Essentially, you will need to bring internal stakeholders along on the journey as you modernise the function and its processes, educating and upskilling other team members as you go.
• There needs to be a fundamental change in the way that the business collects its data and utilises it to aid future commercial decision making. As it stands, the business struggles to collect, quantify and utilise its data to drive positive improvement.

Top three deliverables in 1st year

• Achieved or on target for 20% saving on Procurement spend. (Current spend £15 Million).
• Implementing processes, procedures and governance for the supply chain function along with training and upskilling the wider business in correct Supply Chain Procedures.
• Sales / Bid focus - ensuring the development of strategic proc