Head of Supply Chain

Job Description

• Define and own the supply chain strategy, operating model, policies, and governance framework, aligned to business growth and project delivery commitments
• Own end-to-end sourcing, procurement, vendor management, import, logistics, inventory, and order fulfilment for product, solution, and services delivery
• Forecast demand from the sales pipeline and plan stock, pre-orders, and buffer inventory for likely wins, balancing delivery readiness against working capital and obsolescence risk
• Build and manage OEM, principal, distributor, and channel partner relationships, including partner tier status, deal registration, rebates, and special pricing approvals
• Secure back-to-back commercial terms so that vendor pricing, lead times, warranty, and support cover every commitment made in customer contracts
• Validate bills of materials, part numbers, license and subscription entitlements, and support SKUs before order placement to prevent rework and delivery slippage
• Manage the full lifecycle of software licenses, subscriptions, cloud consumption, and maintenance or AMC renewals, supported by an early warning calendar for expiry and true-up events
• Plan lead times, stock allocation, and end-of-life or end-of-support transitions with pre-sales and delivery teams so that project milestones stay protected
• Lead supplier negotiations on price, payment terms, credit lines, warranty, and service levels to improve margin and cash flow
• Own the supply chain budget and total third-party spend, operating within defined approval authority limits and delivering annual cost savings targets
• Control landed cost across duty, freight, clearance, taxes, and foreign exchange exposure, and provide accurate cost inputs for bids and proposals
• Manage supply chain risk across vendor concentration, component shortages, price volatility, shipment delays, export controls and sanctions, and counterfeit or grey market product
• Maintain accuracy of inventory, project materials, serial numbers, and assets, including staging stock, spares pools, and demo units
• Track and report performance through clear metrics such as procurement cycle time, on-time in-full delivery, cost savings, inventory turns, ageing stock, and supplier scorecards
• Digitize and automate supply chain processes on ERP and procurement platforms, with clean master data and dashboards that support management decisions
• Ensure compliance with internal policy, audit standards, software asset and licensing rules, customer requirements, and ethical sourcing practices
• Lead, structure, and develop a supply chain team spanning procurement, logistics, and inventory, setting priorities, managing performance, and building capability and succession depth

Person Specification

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Logistics, Engineering, Information Technology, or Business Administration
• Professional certification such as CIPS, CSCP, or an equivalent supply chain qualification will be considered an advantage
• Minimum 10 years of experience in supply chain, procurement, or logistics, including at least 5 years leading the function or a large team
• Proven experience in systems integration, ICT, or technology distribution, working directly with OEMs, principals, and distributors
• Hands-on knowledge of hardware procurement, software licensing models, cloud subscriptions, support contracts, and renewal cycles
• Strong track record in import, freight, customs clearance, and landed cost management
• Commercial and financial acumen covering bid costing, margin protection, working capital, credit lines, and foreign exchange exposure
• Solid negotiation and contract skills, including back-to-back terms, service levels, warranty structures, and partner agreements
• Experience running supply chain operations on ERP and procurement platforms, with reporting dashboards and process automation
• Strong leadership, planning, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to influence senior management, customers, and partners
• Clear communication and confident decision-making under project deadline pressure