Job Description
Supplier Support Manager
Full Time
Derby/Hybrid – With frequent travel both domestically and internationally (Up to 80% travel)
Are you an experienced operational leader who thrives in challenging environments and enjoys getting to the heart of complex problems?
We are looking for Supplier Support Managers to join our Aftermarket Supplier Support organisation.
This is a highly visible, hands-on role working on the biggest priorities for Aftermarket Operations. You will make a tangible difference to supplier performance, customer delivery and supply-chain resilience, gaining direct exposure to senior leaders through work that matters most to the business.
You will spend approximately 80% of your working time travelling domestically and internationally, working directly within supplier operations. You will deploy where intervention is required, rapidly understand the issues affecting delivery and work alongside suppliers and internal stakeholders to establish sustainable recovery.
This isn't simply about managing today's problem. Success means leaving the supplier with stronger processes, controls and capability that sustain performance after the intervention has ended.
What you will be doing
As a Supplier Support Manager, you will:
· Deploy into suppliers experiencing operational, capacity, quality or delivery challenges.
· Rapidly assess the situation and identify the underlying constraints preventing delivery.
· Establish clear recovery plans, priorities, governance and performance measures.
· Work directly with supplier leadership and operational teams to drive recovery activities.
· Apply structured problem-solving and Lean methodologies to remove constraints and improve operational performance.
· Challenge existing processes and ways of working where they are contributing to poor performance.
· Drive improvements across Quality, Cost and Delivery (QCD).
· Coordinate effectively across Supplier Management, Procurement, Planning, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality and Programme teams.
· Ensure risks are understood, escalated appropriately and supported by robust mitigation plans.
· Build strong relationships at all organisational levels while remaining confident in constructively challenging where performance needs to improve.
· Establish sustainable processes and controls before transitioning responsibility back to the appropriate supplier management organisation.
This approach is consistent with the established Operations Support model, taking supplier engagements from initial analysis through intervention, exit and handover, with a focus on establishing robust processes that prevent future supply-chain failure.
What we are looking for
You will be someone who is comfortable operating with pace, ambiguity and autonomy, and who can quickly build credibility in challenging operational environments.
You should bring:
· Strong operational or manufacturing experience.
· A proven track record of improving operational performance.
· Excellent problem-solving capability and practical experience applying Lean tools and techniques.
· Experience leading significant improvement, recovery or transformation activities.
· Strong planning, control and programme management capability.
· The ability to interpret operational data and turn analysis into tangible actions.
· Excellent communication, engagement and influencing skills.
· Confidence working with senior supplier and internal leadership teams.
· A collaborative approach combined with the resilience to challenge when required.
· The ability to establish trust quickly when entering difficult or high-pressure environments.
· Flexibility and willingness to travel extensively where business priorities require it.
· Engineering and SAP knowledge would be advantageous.
You could be working alongside a UK supplier one week and supporting…