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Job purpose
Business: As a member of the leadership team develop, implement and deliver the overall business strategy and budget.
Scope: To lead the Supply Chain team with responsibility for all Procurement and Supply Chain Management (SCM) tasks.
To lead the Stores, Dispatch & Logistics functions.
To define and implement a robust SCM approach to support the goals of the business.
To lead a multi-functional supply chain Procurement team; setting clear objectives; managing performance; developing skills and competencies.
Fundamental: Create and embed a culture of High Performance, across 6 pillars:
Positive leadership values and behaviours
Continuous Improvement – lean principles & tools
Talent development and succession
Stakeholder Management
Customer Focus
Team based ways of working
Key responsiblities
Build and lead a team of best-in-class procurement professionals to continuously improve: (i) on time delivery of materials from suppliers (ii) the quality of materials and services procured (iii) the cost of procured products (iv) procurement system and supply chain compliance.
Foster a culture of procurement excellence by ensuring that policy and compliance standards are clear and maintained while also innovating to create and achieve best practices
Participate in Strategic Supply Chain Design and Category Strategy efforts and lead the operational SCM teams to implement strategic sourcing plans for all major commodities
Develop supplier partnerships and tactical procurement relationships that enable the achievement of cost reduction (TCA or MPV goals) lead time goals, quality goals and delivery standards
Develop supplier partnerships and tactical procurement relationships to support New Product Introduction needs as well as continuous rate performance.
Identify gaps in functional competencies and close those gaps through organisation design, team and individual coaching, development, recruitment, and training.
Ensure responsible procurement standards are adequately flowed down and represented into supplier agreements and responsible procurement activities are conducted in a compliant manner
Establish standard work and drive the team to attainment of agreed KPIs (leading and lagging)
Ensure material supply is in balance with demand plan and that strong cash management focus is applied to all aspects of SCM.
Take a leading role in developing and implementing a robust S&OP process.
Procurement Lifecycle Management i.e. From ITT through to contract award, supplier management and SC risk mitigation/management
Develop a contracting framework and implement a contract management system
Take responsibility for the Procurement and Supply Chain Spend dashboards
Compliance: The post holder will own and accept responsibility for the following fundamental obligations: -
Operate to the highest standards of integrity, honesty, transparency, objectivity, selflessness, accountability and openness
Uphold and be a steward of the Mission, Vision and Values of AVIC Cabin Systems
Follow all company internal policies, procedures company by-laws and approvals
Take proactive measures to implement relevant internal controls and mitigate business risks and report the major risks in a timely manner
Ensure adherence to legal, statutory and regulatory requirements, covering all aspects of job-holder's responsibilities.
Manage in line with legal / ethical / people / diversity / equality / health, safety and security policy and principles.
Continuous Improvement: To solicit feedback from customers to ensure that their requirements are met.
To communicate with stakeholders the impact of relevant technology changes and potential effects on service.
To develop continuous improvement and communication protocols and activities within all systems and processes across the businesses
To maintain professional and technical knowledge, establishing personal networks and participating in professional societies
Working with Engineering/NPI/customer teams to provide a long-term development/strategic roadmap, bringing suppliers and supplier developments into the forum
Budgets, analysis and reporting: To input to budgets and forecasts and hold responsibility for them
To prepare monthly and quarterly reports/metrics of performance for management review.
To drive overall root cause analysis and corrective actions within the business and measure these effectively
Reasonable Requirements: As a member of the company’s leadership team, acting in an inter-dependant way be willing to assume wider tasks as appropriate.
Key Perforamcnes
Team efficiency (e.g. spend per buyer)
Percentage of total spend controlled under Long Term Agreement vs P.O. driven
Supplier on time delivery performance (SOTIF)
Supplier quality performance (SDPPM)
Supply Chain cost reduction (Total Cost of Acquisition)
Cash preservation effectiveness
Spend by category/supplier etc.
No. and value of retro PO’s (spend initiated outside Procurement function that did not follow process)
Key Challenges
A multi-faceted role supporting multiple operational and procurement programmes and bringing together two procurement teams into one.
Requires both project management and procurement expertise; project management capability for complex, multi-business projects will be very important
Requires the appointee to work across international cultures and time zones
Requires business systems implementation understanding
Knowledge, Education, Skills and Experience
International procurement, sourcing, supply chain management experience
Experience in the implementation and ongoing management of functional governance mechanisms
Strong analytical capability (supply chain, operational and financial)
Experience in ERP management systems (eg.SAP)
Business and operations process understanding
Business systems implementation project management background and experience
Ability to develop and negotiate contracts (LTAs)
Computer literate. Intermediate skills in MS Excel required.
Experience in use of Power BI would be advantageous
Competency in MS Office suite, including MS Project or another recognised PM platform
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations, Procurement Supply Chain or related field is strongly preferred; equivalent vocational qualifications will also be considered
A professional Procurement certification (e.g. MCIPS accreditation or similar) is preferred but not vital dependent upon demonstrated Supply Chain leadership experience
Skills and competencies required
Articulate and confident in leading a geographically dispersed team and in creating a shared vision
Skilled at managing across differing business and regional cultures
Strong leader and team player able to work and contribute as part of the wider ACS procurement function (will be core member of ACS Procurement Council and the ACS Procurement Leadership Team)
Excellent communication skills and ability to provide clarity situations that require honesty and candour
Strong process orientation and problem-solving orientation
Agility and comfort with ambiguity
Credible with gravitas and know how
Proven, excellent leadership skills with the ability to optimise team performance and development
Ability to work collaboratively, negotiating and engaging with key stakeholders to facilitate delivery and compliance with the quality strategy
Results-driven approach with an excellent eye for detail
Resilient, optimistic and open to change
Self-motivated and able to work and communicate well under pressure
Excellent written and oral communication, with strong interpersonal and influencing skills
Commercially and financially astute
Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities
Ability to prioritise, demonstrating good time management skills
An appreciation of and an ability to positively resolve issues arising from different cultures
Experience in Lean, Value Engineering, Problem Solving techniques would be an advantage
Professional Experience
Experience of managing projects and of sourcing and purchasing globally
Experience working supply and operational performance issues, ideally between Western and Chinese business interests
Ideally 5-10 years' experience in a multi-geography, multi-culture, multi-system business
Experience influencing and / or negotiating at senior and Board level
Experience of Supplier Relationship management – ideally through a structured assessment and improvement process approach
Experience of working across and alongside other functions to deliver NPI
Leading/participating in SOP process in previous roles
Base location: Cambridge site preferred, though the post holder must be able and willing to travel regularly to all company locations.
Other Material Requirements, such as location, working arrangements, travel requirements
Travel as necessitated by customers and between ACS Group company sites will be required on an occasional basis, with possible travel to Europe, the USA, New Zealand and China.
As manufacturing can operate on shift working, the jobholder must be prepared to work flexible hours to inspect and check quality and HSE performance in the various locations at different times as required to ensure the highest standards.
Please note: Duties are subject to change based on organisational needs and evolving requirements.
