Supply Chain Manager

Supply Chain Manager Location: London, minimum 2 days onsite preferred Type: Permanent Sector: Defence / Aerospace / UAVOverview We are supporting a growing defence engineering business in the unmanned systems sector that is looking to strengthen its supply chain capability as part of a wider scale-up in product delivery and manufacturing readiness. They are seeking a Supply Chain Manager to manage supplier relationships, support sourcing strategy, and drive commercial engagement across a supplier base focused on components and metallic parts. This is a key role for someone who can combine supplier relationship management, commercial awareness, contracts understanding, and client-facing capability in a growing, delivery-driven business.Role Purpose The successful candidate will take ownership of supplier relationships and help build a more robust and scalable supply chain capable of supporting a growing engineering and manufacturing operation. The focus will be on ensuring suppliers can deliver the required quality, cost, and lead-time performance, while also supporting the business in commercial and contractual discussions.Key Responsibilities

• Manage relationships with suppliers providing components, metallic parts, and other key manufacturing inputs
• Develop and maintain a supply chain capable of supporting growth in engineering and production activity
• Work with suppliers to improve delivery performance, responsiveness, quality, and cost
• Support commercial and contractual discussions with suppliers
• Contribute to sourcing strategy and supplier selection
• Act as a key interface between the business and external suppliers
• Work closely with engineering, manufacturing, and programme teams to ensure supplier capability aligns with delivery needs
• Identify supply chain risks and develop mitigation plans
• Help build a more structured supply chain model to support business growth and manufacturing scale-up
• Maintain strong client and stakeholder relationships where supply chain performance has a direct impact on programme delivery

What you will need

• Experience in supply chain, supplier management, procurement, or commercial roles within engineering, aerospace, defence, or manufacturing environments
• Strong experience managing supplier relationships for components and metallic parts
• Commercially aware, with understanding of contracts, supplier negotiations, and delivery risk
• Able to operate confidently with both suppliers and internal stakeholders
• Strong communication and relationship management skills
• Experience in a scaling or fast-paced engineering/manufacturing environment
• Good understanding of how supply chain performance affects programme delivery and client outcomes

Desirable

• Aerospace, defence, UAV, or advanced manufacturing background
• Experience in building or maturing a supply chain function
• Exposure to complex engineering products and lower-volume to scaling production environments
• Understanding of quality and compliance expectations in regulated sectors

Summary This is an exciting opportunity for someone who can help build and manage the supplier ecosystem needed to support a growing unmanned systems business, with a particular focus on components, metallic parts, commercial control, and supplier relationship management.