Supply Chain Director

Director of Supply Chain

We are excited to be working with a growing, commercial stage medical device company to hire its first Director of Supply Chain.

Our client makes Class II devices and is scaling quickly, with production volume expected to grow by around 50% next year and a product portfolio that keeps expanding.

This is a new position, with ownership of supply chain, purchasing, inventory and production planning.

You will also be a key member of the team implementing a new systems in 2027, so you will have a real say in how the function and its workflows are built for the next stage of growth.

The role suits someone who is currently a supply chain manager or senior manager, has seen an ERP transition first hand and is ready for their first director role or someone who is has more experience at this level and is looking to build something new!

Key Areas of The Role

Strategy and Risk

• Build and own a rolling 3-year supply chain strategy that supports growth, new product launches and capacity needs, and present it to the leadership team.
• Identify and reduce sole-source risk, leading dual sourcing and the qualification of new suppliers with Quality and R&D.
• Manage cross-border supply, including import and export, tariffs and customs.

Purchasing and Suppliers

• Own the purchasing function, including pricing, lead times and terms.
• Negotiate supply agreements covering volume commitments, pricing, safety stock and change notification.
• Set up supplier-held stock, consignment or ship-on-demand programmes, so the business isn't sitting on months of inventory.
• Work with key suppliers to deliver more complete sub-assemblies, freeing the in-house team to focus on core manufacturing.
• Visit suppliers in person, run business reviews and scorecards, and take part in supplier audits.
• Join a new cross-functional supplier management team alongside R&D, engineering and supplier quality.

Inventory and Production Planning

• Introduce MRP and own the master production schedule.
• Set reorder points, safety stock and min/max levels, weighing the cost of holding stock against the risk of a stock-out.
• Analyse internal and supplier capacity and flag constraints early.
• Track KPIs such as inventory turns, OTIF, supplier on-time delivery and forecast accuracy.

ERP Implementation

• Act as the supply chain and planning lead on the new ERP implementation.
• Design future-state workflows for purchasing, MRP, inventory and traceability, and challenge how things have been done before.
• Own master data clean-up, migration and user acceptance testing, then train users after go-live.

Leadership and Compliance

• Manage and develop a Supply Chain Coordinator, and grow the team as the business scales.
• Keep supply chain activity compliant with 21 CFR Part 820 (QMSR), ISO 13485 and UDI and lot traceability requirements.
• Work closely with Quality, Regulatory, R&D, Finance and Commercial.

What We Are Looking For

• Around 8-12 years in supply chain, purchasing and production planning, including at least 3 years leading people.
• Experience in an FDA-regulated or ISO 13485 environment, medical device strongly preferred.
• Hands-on involvement in at least 1 ERP implementation or major upgrade.
• A track record of negotiating supply agreements and setting up consignment, pre-stocking or ship-on-demand programmes.
• Experience reducing sole-source risk and qualifying alternate suppliers.
• A solid understanding of how things are made, for example injection moulding, extrusion or precision metal components.
• Strong commercial judgement when balancing inventory cost against supply risk.
• Strong analytical skills and advanced Excel.
• A bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Business or a related field.
• Confidence building supplier relationships face to face, with travel of up to 20% in the first few months, settling to around 10%, including some international trips.

Nice to Haves (Not a Must or Disqualifying Factor)

• An engineering background.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics or NetSuite.
• Using AI tools to improve supply chain processes.
• Working with contract manufacturers in Latin America.
• APICS/ASCM (CPIM, CSCP) or CPSM certification.
• Lean or Six Sigma experience.
• Familiarity with sterilisation logistics (EO or radiation) and sterile-barrier packaging.

Notes:

• Flexibility on Start Date, can be anytime between November and January
• Salary Range depends on years of experience
• Sponsorship is not available at this time
• This is an Onsite Role, there can be some Hybrid flexibility but this would need to be discussed on a qualification call with the recruiter