Head of Retail Supply Chain

Head of Retail Supply Chain | Drinks | Manchester

Are you a supply chain leader who thrives on ownership, not just oversight?

We're partnering exclusively and confidentially with a fast-scaling FMCG drinks business based in Manchester to find their first Head of Retail Supply Chain. This is a genuine opportunity to build and shape a function from the ground up, not inherit someone else's playbook.

You'll take end-to-end responsibility for the retail supply chain, from S&OP and demand planning through to co-manufacturer relationships, 3PL performance and the full retail order book. You'll own the critical KPIs that matter: forecast accuracy, OTIF, on-shelf availability, stock health and service levels.

• Strengthening S&OP frameworks that align commercial, operational and financial plans
• Leading demand and supply planning across the product range
• Managing the critical path from listing won to first shipment on NPD launches
• Holding co-manufacturers and 3PL partners to account on performance, cost and capacity
• Driving a cost reduction pipeline with quantified savings to the P&L
• Overseeing retail order book operations including EDI, compliance and deductions resolution
• Building and leading a high-performing retail supply chain team as the business scales

• A track record as a Head Of within Retail FMCG, ideally food, drink or consumer goods
• Experience scaling a Retail channel and building the structures needed to support it
• Exposure to gold standard supply chain environments, with the ability to translate best practice into a scaling business
• Strong S&OP and supplier management experience, particularly with co-manufacturers
• Familiarity with ERP and planning systems and practical EDI implementation experience

Hands-on and commercially sharp, you know when to get into the detail and when to step back and design the bigger picture. You challenge the status quo, bring data-led recommendations rather than just problems, and want to make this function genuinely your own.