Head of Supply Chain Programmes

Job description

Job Summary

The Head of Supply Chain Programmes is responsible for leading the Supply Chain programme function and ensuring all activities are fully aligned with customer, programme, and industrial objectives for cost, quality, and delivery. The role provides governance, strategic direction, and performance oversight for the Supply Chain contribution to all in-production and development programmes.
Acting as the voice of the Supply Chain within the Programme leadership structure, this role ensures consistent delivery against key programme milestones, drives maturity and best practice across Supply Chain processes, and represents the Supply Chain function in front of the senior leadership team and customers.

Scope of Responsibilities

The Head of Supply Chain Programmes leads a cross-functional interface between Supply Chain, Programme Management, Procurement, and Operations. The scope includes the management of the Supply Chain Programme Managers covering multiple customer programmes, ensuring alignment of Supply Chain enablement strategies to programme objectives. The role ensures risks are managed proactively, performance is transparent, and continuous improvement is embedded across the function.

This position is both strategic and operationally accountable, focusing on:
*Programme governance and delivery performance.
*Material and supplier readiness for NPI and in-production programmes.
*Planning and procurement integration with S&OP, Industrial Strategy, and Finance.
*Leadership of Supply Chain Programme Manages and functional development.

Key Responsibilities and Duties
Leadership & Governance
*Lead and develop the Supply Chain Programme team, ensuring clarity of objectives, coaching, and succession planning.
*Own and govern the performance of all Supply Chain deliverables across assigned programmes.
*Represent Supply Chain at senior leadership forums, customer reviews, and programme boards.
*Ensure full alignment between Supply Chain activities and Programme milestones, budgets, and industrial readiness plans.
*Develop and deploy standardised processes for Supply Chain programme management, ensuring consistent practice and governance across all programmes.

This role is subject to pre-employment checks, including but not limited to criminal record checks. While having unspent convictions may not necessarily prevent you from being employed, you are required to disclose any unspent convictions during the recruitment process. Only candidates who successfully pass these checks will be considered for employment.

What We'll Offer
As a valued member of our team, these are just a few of the benefits you'll receive:
* 33 days holiday (including bank holidays)
* Industry leading pension scheme with salary sacrifice employer contributions up to 10%.
* Private medical cover (to include Digital GP and rapid access Physio with no excess) with ability to upgrade level of benefit and cover family members.
* Access to salary sacrifice benefits scheme including cycle to work and Octopus EV Scheme
* 4 x Life Assurance
* Annual Bonus
* Interactive benefits platform including wide range of discretionary benefits including technology, retail benefits, income protection.
* Enhanced family friendly policies and benefits (enhanced maternity and paternity leave) and employee assistance programme
* Annual share save schemes.
* Opportunities for career advancement and personal growth. Benefit from support through Safran University and our internal Training and Development Schools
* Get involved in our corporate social responsibility activities from sustainability initiatives, charity and fundraising, volunteering days, or supporting STEM activities at local schools and colleges nurturing the next generation of talent

We are committed to building a workforce that is reflective of the diverse community we serve. We want to attract the best applications from people of all backgrounds and underrepresented groups because we strongly believe in adding value through diversity, inclusion. Our employees enable us to deliver services that are accessible and inclusive. As part of our commitment with Disability Confident Employers, we may offer a guaranteed interview to applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post. We strive to provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and employment. Let us know if you need support to showcase your talents or require any reasonable adjustments with your application.

Desired profile

• 10+ years' experience in supply chain, planning, procurement, or programme management in a manufacturing environment
• Proven leadership of multi-programme or cross-functional supply chain teams.
• Strong understand of industrial and programme planning gates.
• Experience managing supplier readiness, long-lead strategies, and procurement alignment.
• Demonstrated success in delivery costs, quality, and delivery objectives at programme or business-unit level.
• Excellent financial and analytical acumen; able to link supply chain data to programme performance.
• Advanced ERP/MRP capability and business intelligence reporting tools.
• APICS CPIM/CSCP, PMP, or equivalent leadership certification.
• Experience with Lean/CI or Industry 4.0 deployment.
• Strategic leader with the ability to inspire, empower, and align teams towards common goals.
• Excellent communicator, able to influence at all levels, including executive and customer-facing.
• Analytical and data-driven, with strong decision-making skills under pressure.
• Resilient and adaptable, able to manage complex priorities across multiple programmes
• Demonstrates continuous improvement mindset and drives functional maturity.

About SAFRAN

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of 27.3 billion euros in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.
Safran is in the 2nd place in the aerospace and defense industry in TIME magazine's "World's best companies 2024" ranking.

Safran Seats is one of the world's leading manufacturers of aircraft seats, for both crew and passengers. 1 million Safran Seats-manufactured aircraft seats are currently in service with air fleets around the world.