Supply Chain and Procurement Manager

South West Larder: Togetherness, Nurture, Pride, Planet

Full Time: 39 Hours per week

Salary: £60,000 pa

Location: North Petherton

Based at our 6000 square feet warehouse with chilled, frozen and ambient food and drink items in North Petherton, we're looking for an experienced Supply Chain & Procurement Manager to lead, manage and develop our end-to-end supply chain function across South West Larder.

The Role

Key responsibilities are:

• Lead and develop a high-performing Supply Chain & Procurement team.
• Manage procurement, supplier relationships, stock control and forecasting.
• Drive cost efficiencies, service improvements and sustainability initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, health & safety and environmental standards.
• Monitor supplier performance and manage supply chain risks.
• Produce KPI reports and operational performance analysis.
• Work closely with operational teams to support business growth and service delivery.

What We're Looking For

Our ideal candidate will bring:

• Proven leadership experience in supply chain, procurement, logistics or operational management.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Strong understanding of food supply chain operations, stock management and distribution processes.
• Experience managing suppliers, procurement systems and stock control.
• Excellent commercial, analytical and negotiation skills.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, COSHH and Health & Safety requirements.
• Organisation, IT literacy and self-motivation.
• Be a strong relationship builder.

Somerset Larder produces fresh food and meals to go using locally sourced ingredients from all over the west country. Our philosophy is to nourish the community with amazing produce, to employ local people and to train apprentices for future careers in the catering and hospitality sector.

At Somerset Larder, our Values have been set by our staff. Our Values exist for the good of our working lives and company performance. Our Values are:

• Togetherness - “Be a tractor not a trailer.”
• Nurture - “You grow, I grow, we grow.”
• Pride - “We can and we will”
• Planet - “We’re part of a bigger picture”

MAIN PURPOSE:                 

We are seeking a commercially focused and operationally driven Supply Chain & Procurement Manager to lead and develop our end-to-end supply chain function across South West Larder.

This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for ensuring the seamless procurement, forecasting, storage, distribution and operational delivery of food, beverages, consumables and associated products across multiple business units.

The successful candidate will lead the supply chain team on the project, driving performance, accountability and continuous improvement while ensuring the operation remains compliant, efficient, resilient and commercially competitive.

Working closely with operational leaders, suppliers and the wider WSH Group, the role will champion best practice, innovation, sustainability and service excellence within a fast-paced and highly regulated environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Supply Chain Leadership & Operational Delivery

• Lead, motivate and develop the Supply Chain & Procurement team, creating a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration and operational excellence.
• Take full ownership of supply chain operations across the project, ensuring products and services are delivered safely, efficiently and in line with operational demands.
• Provide visible leadership across all supply chain activities, setting clear objectives, priorities and performance standards for the team.
• Build capability within the supply chain function through coaching, mentoring, succession planning and continuous professional development.
• Work collaboratively with operational stakeholders to ensure supply chain activities fully support business growth, client expectations and service delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across procurement, logistics, warehousing and distribution operations.

Procurement, Planning & Supplier Management

• Lead forecasting, procurement and inventory planning activities to ensure product availability while minimising waste and excess stock.
• Oversee purchasing activity with approved suppliers, ensuring compliance with company policies, contractual agreements and operational requirements.
• Develop strong supplier relationships to secure best value, service reliability, innovation and supply continuity.
• Monitor supplier performance, market conditions and supply risks, implementing contingency plans where required.
• Support procurement system enhancements, process improvements and implementation of operational best practice.
• Collaborate with WSH Group Procurement and Supply Chain teams to align strategies, standards and commercial objectives.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and operational efficiencies without compromising quality, compliance or service.

Compliance, Governance & Safety

• Ensure compliance with all relevant food safety, health & safety, hygiene, environmental and legislative standards.
• Lead the implementation and monitoring of operational compliance relating to HACCP, TACCP, COSHH, waste management and associated regulations.
• Promote and embed a Zero Harm culture across all supply chain activities.
• Maintain strong governance processes, accurate documentation and audit-ready standards across the function.
• Work with internal stakeholders and subject matter experts to manage risk, resolve compliance issues and implement best practice.

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

• Chair and lead operational meetings and working groups to drive collaboration, service improvements and performance outcomes.
• Build effective working relationships with operational teams, suppliers, contractors and client representatives.
• Provide clear communication and direction to the supply chain team, ensuring alignment with operational priorities.
• Produce and present meaningful operational reports, KPI dashboards and performance analysis to senior stakeholders.
• Act as a key escalation point for operational supply chain issues, resolving challenges proactively and professionally.

Analytics & Continuous Improvement

• Analyse operational data, trends and performance metrics to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Develop reporting tools and dashboards to support data-driven decision making.
• Benchmark operational performance against industry standards and implement improvements where appropriate.
• Lead initiatives that improve service performance, operational resilience, sustainability and cost efficiency.

People Management

• Recruit, induct, train and develop team members to ensure high standards of performance and professionalism.
• Conduct regular performance reviews, objective setting and development planning.
• Foster a positive and inclusive working environment that reflects company values and encourages engagement.
• Ensure policies, procedures and company standards are consistently applied across the team.

Fleet & Operational Resources

• Work closely with the Transport Manager to ensure company vehicles and operational equipment remain compliant, safe and fit for purpose.
• Support the effective management of operational resources to maximise efficiency and service delivery.

Essential Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Proven leadership experience within supply chain, procurement, logistics or operational management.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing supply chain teams within a fast-paced operational environment.
• Strong understanding of food supply chain operations, stock management and distribution processes.
• Experience managing procurement systems and supplier relationships.
• Commercially aware with strong negotiation and cost management capability.
• Excellent planning, organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead operational change and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and identify trends.
• Effective communicator with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience operating within highly regulated environments and maintaining compliance standards.
• Competent in Microsoft Office and stock management / procurement systems.
• Financially and commercially astute.
• Strong understanding of health & safety and food safety practices, including HACCP and COSHH.
• Ability to achieve and maintain HPC site badge requirements.

Desirable Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Experience within hospitality, food service or contract catering sectors.
• Membership of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS).
• Knowledge of Procure Wizard or similar procurement platforms.
• Understanding of lifting operations and load equipment regulations.
• Experience working within large-scale or complex project environments.

Further Qualifications

• IOSH, NEBOSH or equivalent Health & Safety qualification (or willingness to achieve within 12 months).
• Food Safety Level 2 qualification (to be completed within 28 days of joining).
• Food Safety Level 4 qualification (desirable)

South West Larder offers a generous benefits package which includes:

• Pension Scheme (5% matched)
• 30 days holiday (including bank holidays)
• Perkbox benefits package
• Cycle Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Opportunities for Learning, Development & Training
• Access to Occupational Health

Successful applicants will be required to provide a three-year employment history and five-year address history in order to work on Hinkley Point C. They must be able to provide in date photographic ID and their right to work in the UK so that security clearance can be obtained as these roles are based on a nuclear regulated site.