Supply Chain Operations Manager

Manpower; Port Sunlight; Hybrid; GBP 74,000 - GBP 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading staffing agency is seeking an interim Supply Chain Operations Manager for a global FMCG client. This full-time, temporary role in Port Sunlight requires 37.5 hours per week, offering a competitive salary between £74,400 and £85,000 per annum. Responsibilities include managing supply chain operations, collaborating with business units, and leading initiatives for efficiency and innovation in a fast-paced environment. Remote working options available, adapting to business needs.

Qualifications

• Experience in supply chain required.
• Unilever experience highly desired.
• Thorough understanding of operations & innovation processes and cross-functional interactions.
• Finance and business acumen for supply chain.
• Experience leading diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage supply chain operations and ensure strategic alignment.
• Collaborate across multiple business areas to improve efficiency.
• Lead SC initiatives and innovation management.
• Define sustainability programs for BG.

Skills

Experience in supply chain

Unilever experience

Operations & innovation processes understanding

Finance and business acumen

Leadership with virtual teams

Job description

Manpower are currently seeking an interim Supply Chain Operations Manager, to work with our global FMCG client Unilever, renowned for brands such as Dove, Sure, Persil, and Simple, and become an integral part of their fast‑paced FMCG environment.

The position is based in Port Sunlight Village, Wirral easily accessible by train and car. This is a full‑time temporary role to run for 12 months, requiring 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Compensation for this role is competitive, paying between £74,400 and £85,000 per annum, pro rata, depending upon experience.

The role currently offers a mix of remote and onsite working, subject to adjustment based on business requirements.

Background to the role

Unilever operates with Business Groups (BG's) and this a role within Beauty & Wellbeing (B&W) category, generally covering Haircare & skincare brands. The B&W supply chain has been redesigned to be faster, more flexible and focused on consumers. By simplifying operations and working closely with BU teams, the organisation aims to improve innovation, increase profit margins, make better use of assets and strengthen support for the Business Group's (BG's) goals through skilled people and advanced technology.

Supply Chain (SC) Operations Manager acts as the "control centre," collaborating across multiple business areas, directing projects and connecting various elements to ensure strategic alignment. This role manages the supply chain operations to keep daily activities running smoothly, while also applying critical thinking and overseeing cross‑functional project governance. The primary focus is on improving internal processes that support how the BG operates, reinforcing key enablers to boost efficiency and ensuring effective management of innovation and multi‑workstream programmes to deliver greater value, availability, and purpose.

Key Accountabilities

Working on numerous SC initiatives. These are likely to include working in the following spaces:

Day to Day

• Business partner with senior stakeholders, workstream leads & the wider SC communityin geographical Business Units (BU's)
• Represent and be the voice of SC in cross‑functional agile squads. Provide SC inputs into project networks and be accountable for ensuring on‑track activities for the SC work stream.
• Work closely with other BG teams - Strategies Group, Collaborative Manufacturing, Engineering & R&D ensuring seamless implementation of strategy. Working with other BG SC teams as and when required - Personal Care, Homecare & Foods
• Manage interfaces within SC i.e. Quality, Procurement, Engineering for projects and bring in relevant experts from wider SC functions to deliver the project. Be part of a dynamic BG‑BU SC organization, working on numerous initiatives across B&W.

Future Fit Supply Chain

Including leading Tactical RPM Resilience resolution for short‑term operational challenges, mitigating turnover losses & protecting innovation programme. Develop pro‑active RPM strategy in partnership with Procurement function.

Managing Regulatory & legal RPM change management programme.

Lead management of central resourcing defining the sourcing network and actions. Will also involve strategic thinking around roll‑out and expansion to other key regions / formats.

Facilitate SC focused 'Technical Project Review' bringing visibility of key activities, data, interdependencies, capabilities, decision making & impacts across SC, Engineering, Collaborative Manufacturing, Long Term Planning, Sustainability, Quality.

Main Point of contact for ad‑hoc SC Capabilities (i.e. high‑growth formats) Long Term Capacity Planning & mould management.

Innovation

Lead BG SC overview of innovation management ensuring activities are fully resourced. Underpinned by driving Innovation network speed & agility via sub‑workstreams.

Pioneer centralised Innovation Data Governance Process connected to Net Productivity & Strategic initiatives. Systematic assessment of critical innovation projects to ensure SC synergy, cost optimisation & informed agility trade‑offs.

Lead Executional Governance across innovation & sourcing.

Sustainability

Define the sustainability programme for BG and ensuring this is supported and resourced as required.

Skills required

• Experience in supply chain required.
• Unilever experience highly desired.
• Thorough understanding of operations & innovation processes and cross functional interactions and touchpoints.
• Finance and business acumen for supply chain.
• Experience leading/working/collaborating with virtual teams and driving performance across a diverse mixture of cultures.

Standards of Leadership

• Purpose and Service, Personal Mastery, Agility.
• Consumer Love, Business Acumen, Talent Catalyst and Passion for High Performance.

Culture Behaviours

• Care Deeply: care about our Brands, people & performance.
• Focus on what Counts: balance & prioritize several simultaneous activities, deliver to conclusion, hold others to account, lean into challenge on the right choice.
• Stay three steps Ahead: be curious and confident.
• Deliver with Excellence: personal ownership, flawless, agile execution, creative problem solving.