Head of Supply Chain Industrial

Position Overview:

The Head of Supply Chain will lead the end-to-end supply chain function for our industrial/automotive division, ensuring seamless procurement, production planning, logistics, and inventory management across a global footprint. This role is strategic and hands-on, responsible for driving operational excellence, cost optimization, supplier performance, and alignment with business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and implement a robust supply chain strategy aligned with business growth, manufacturing, and customer service goals.

• Lead cross-functional teams to optimize supply chain operations across sourcing, production, inventory, and logistics.

• Drive digital transformation and smart supply chain initiatives (e.g., Industry 4.0, IoT, EDI, predictive analytics).

Procurement & Supplier Management:

• Oversee supplier sourcing, contract negotiation, and performance monitoring.

• Ensure a resilient and diversified supplier base, particularly for critical automotive components.

• Drive supplier development and compliance with quality and sustainability standards.

Planning & Logistics:

• Optimize demand planning, production scheduling, and inventory control to meet customer delivery targets.

• Lead initiatives to improve OTIF (on-time-in-full) performance and reduce lead times.

• Manage global logistics partners, freight spend, and import/export compliance.

Operational Excellence:

• Implement lean manufacturing and just-in-time inventory practices.

• Establish KPIs and dashboards for supply chain performance, cost savings, and risk mitigation.

• Collaborate with engineering, sales, and operations teams to align supply chain with product lifecycle and customer needs.

Team Leadership:

• Build and lead a high-performing global supply chain team.

• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, or related field (MBA or APICS/CSCP certification preferred).

• 10+ years of progressive experience in supply chain roles within the automotive or industrial manufacturing sectors.

• Strong background in ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle, etc.).

• Proven experience managing international suppliers and complex logistics networks.

• Deep understanding of quality systems, compliance (IATF 16949, ISO 9001), and regulatory requirements.

Preferred Skills & Attributes:

• Experience in electrification, e-mobility, or Tier 1/Tier 2 automotive environments.

• Data-driven decision maker with strong analytical and project management skills.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management abilities.

• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, highly matrixed global organization.