Supply Chain Specialist

This is a true Supply Chain Specialist role for someone already operating with ownership, judgement, and confidence in a planning-led environment, within either the Food/Beverage Manufacturing industry or Pharma.

Important to Know

This role is not suited to profiles that are:

• Primarily logistics, freight, or coordination-focused

The business is looking for an individual who can think independently, challenge ways of working, and add insight, not someone looking for a step-up or close supervision. This is not a task-execution or developmental position.

Reporting into the Inventory Manager and working closely with UK supply chain leadership, you’ll play a key role in protecting stock availability, improving inventory performance, and strengthening supply planning decisions across a complex product portfolio.

What This Role Is Really About

You’ll sit at the intersection of demand planning, purchasing, and inventory control, taking responsibility for how data, decisions, and outcomes connect.

This role is about:

• Owning supply and inventory decisions, not just administering them
• Identifying risks early and acting decisively
• Challenging forecasts, assumptions, and processes when they don’t stack up
• Influencing stakeholders with data-backed insight

If you’re comfortable saying “this doesn’t work and here’s a better way”, this role will suit you.

Key Responsibilities

Supply & Purchasing Ownership

• Manage purchase orders end-to-end in line with demand and replenishment plans
• Track commitments, challenge delivery dates, and escalate supply risk early
• Make judgement calls on priorities when constraints arise
• Maintain clean, accurate purchasing and supply data

Demand Planning & Decision Support

• Own forecast inputs, assumptions, and short-term planning files
• Analyse forecast vs actuals and proactively highlight risks and opportunities
• Support demand and supply reviews with insight, not just numbers
• Challenge plans where demand, stock, or supply signals don’t align

Inventory Control & Improvement

• Actively manage stock health: availability, excess, slow-moving and expiry risk
• Produce and interpret inventory reports and dashboards
• Lead or influence improvements that reduce write-offs and improve efficiency
• Ensure ERP, inventory, and logistics data remain accurate and aligned

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience operating at a Supply Chain Specialist / Planner level within Food/ Beverage Manufacturing or Pharma
• Evidence of independent decision-making, not just following direction
• Strong inventory and planning capability within a regulated or process-driven environment
• Advanced Excel skills; confident analysing and interpreting data
• Comfortable challenging stakeholders and escalating issues when required

Nice to Have

• ERP experience (SAP, Oracle or similar)
• Exposure to Power BI or a strong interest in developing analytical capability