Jobs

Supply Chain Lead

Cheltenham, United Kingdom

£47,400 - £58,000 + benefits

Must be eligible for UK Security Clearance (SC)

The Opportunity

Pivt is supporting a leading organisation within the UK defence and national security sector to appoint a Supply Chain Lead into a critical programme environment.

This is a high-impact role sitting at the centre of programme delivery, responsible for ensuring a resilient, efficient, and commercially sound supply chain that supports complex, mission-critical outcomes.

You will operate across both strategic and operational levels, shaping supplier strategy, driving commercial performance, and ensuring programme delivery is achieved on time and within budget.

This role offers the opportunity to work within a highly secure, technically advanced environment where supply chain is fundamental to operational success.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide senior supply chain support across programmes, ensuring delivery against schedule, cost, and performance targets
• Identify, assess, and onboard suitable suppliers for third-party goods and services
• Lead tendering and competitive procurement exercises, driving best value and on-time delivery
• Shape and execute negotiation strategies, including contract and subcontract agreements
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, ensuring long-term performance and collaboration
• Monitor and manage supplier performance, including OTIF, quality, risk, and opportunity metrics
• Manage supplier risks, including availability, pricing, and obsolescence, ensuring continuity of supply
• Support demand forecasting, purchasing, scheduling, and inventory management activities
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, optimising processes, cost efficiency, and ways of working
• Escalate and manage supplier issues that impact programme delivery

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience within a supply chain or procurement function, ideally in defence, engineering, or complex programme environments
• Demonstrated success in supplier negotiation, subcontract management, and commercial delivery
• Strong understanding of supply chain operations, including sourcing, planning, and performance management
• Experience in contract and subcontract law, with the ability to manage commercial risk
• Proven ability to build effective relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers
• Experience supporting or contributing to proposal or bid activity
• Strong analytical, organisational, and problem-solving capabilities
• Degree-qualified (or equivalent experience) in a relevant discipline

Security Clearance

Due to the nature of this role:

• You must be eligible to obtain and maintain UK Security Clearance (SC)

Why This Role

• Play a key role in delivering mission-critical defence programmes
• Influence both strategic supply chain decisions and operational delivery
• Work within a highly collaborative environment across engineering, programme, and commercial teams
• Be part of an organisation where supply chain is central to performance, not a support function

Apply

If you are an experienced supply chain or procurement professional looking to step into a role with greater ownership, impact, and strategic exposure, we’d be keen to speak.