Strategic Supply Chain Lead - Defence Campaigns; Europe

Strategic Supply Chain Lead - Defence Campaigns (Europe)

K  manages over $3bn of global spend with supply chains. K  delivers science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. We employ over 38,000 people in 29+ countries globally, with around 4,000 employees based across the UK in 18 different locations. We are deeply committed to the defence and national security of the UK and its allies and proud of our long‑standing commitment to the UK MoD as a strategic supplier.

Our capabilities across all military domains are diverse and growing as the battlefield landscape changes; from infrastructure management and platform development to cybersecurity, system engineering and safety and assurance. We are a global community of innovators, thinkers, creators, explorers, volunteers and dreamers that deliver technology and solutions to help our customers accomplish their most critical missions.

The Supply Chain Lead will provide dedicated supply chain and commercial leadership to support the Europe Campaign, initially focusing on Poland, Germany and NATO opportunities, supplier intelligence and bid readiness. The role aims to strengthen K ’s market knowledge, build a credible supply partner network, shape supply chain and commercial approaches that improve probability of win, and provide continuity across multiple campaign work streams over the next 12 to 24 months.

This role may be structured initially as a fixed‑term appointment, with potential to transition into a longer‑term role based on campaign success and future pipeline. It requires flexibility across Europe Campaign priorities and may involve travel across Europe, especially Poland and Germany, and the UK.

• Lead supply chain market analysis for Europe Campaign opportunities, including mapping of supplier capability, capacity, pricing dynamics, risk, and route‑to‑market options.
• Develop and maintain an informed view of potential partners, subcontractors and local suppliers across relevant service lines, particularly logistics, sustainment and integrated support services.
• Initiate and manage early supplier engagement activity to build relationships, gather intelligence and improve readiness for future bids and market entry decisions.
• Shape supply chain strategies and commercial approaches for campaigns and bids, ensuring they are tailored to the country, opportunity and mission segment.
• Provide continuity across campaign work streams, maintaining stakeholder alignment and ensuring supply chain actions are tracked through to decision points.
• Support the development of a practical supply chain playbook for Europe opportunities, including use of segmentation tools such as Kraljic analysis to identify strategic partners and sourcing priorities.

• Build and maintain Europe Campaign supply chain intelligence, including supplier long lists, market assessments and opportunity‑specific partner strategies.
• Lead engagement with prospective suppliers and supply chain partners in target markets, arranging introductory discussions, capability reviews and follow‑up actions.
• Advise campaign leadership on market entry considerations for Poland, Germany and other relevant European markets, including local delivery models, partnering options and risk considerations.
• Work closely with bid, commercial, legal, programme and operational colleagues to translate market intelligence into competitive and deliverable bid strategies.
• Support the development of Day 1 and longer‑term delivery approaches, ensuring supply chain considerations are built into both mobilisation and future state operating models.
• Produce concise briefings, recommendation papers, supplier summaries and decision‑support material for senior stakeholders.
• Assess supplier capability, compliance, resilience and strategic fit, and recommend priority partners for further pursuit activity.
• Contribute to the development of commercial models and go‑to‑market approaches that improve competitiveness while maintaining delivery confidence.
• Track and manage supply chain actions across 6‑9 month work streams, ensuring progress is visible…