VHR is partnering with a leading manufacturing and assembly organisation in the UAE to recruit an experienced Supplier Planning Manager.

This is a key supply chain leadership role responsible for managing supplier planning activities, ensuring material availability, and driving supplier performance to support uninterrupted production operations.

The successful candidate will work closely with suppliers and internal stakeholders to optimise procurement activities, improve supplier performance, maintain supply continuity, and support the successful delivery of production requirements across the business.

Supplier Planning & Procurement Operations

• Lead daily and weekly supplier planning activities aligned with production requirements and the master production schedule.
• Ensure timely placement, management and follow-up of purchase orders with suppliers.
• Manage supplier priorities and coordinate schedule changes to support operational demands.
• Proactively manage material shortages, overdue orders and delivery risks.
• Support sourcing strategies through supplier performance analysis and planning insight.
• Maintain inventory policies and planning parameters to ensure material availability.
• Drive ERP data accuracy and integrity to support effective planning and decision-making.

Supplier Capacity & Risk Management

• Provide suppliers with medium and long-term demand forecasts to support capacity planning.
• Monitor supplier capacity against forecast demand and identify potential constraints.
• Develop and implement mitigation plans to address delivery risks and supply disruptions.
• Maintain supplier risk registers and contingency plans to ensure supply continuity.
• Collaborate with suppliers to improve responsiveness, flexibility and operational performance.

Supplier Performance Management

• Monitor and improve supplier on-time delivery and schedule adherence performance.
• Develop and maintain supplier performance dashboards and KPIs.
• Conduct supplier reviews and performance evaluations.
• Drive supplier recovery plans and improvement initiatives where required.
• Escalate ongoing supplier issues and support resolution through appropriate governance channels.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders.

Continuous Improvement

• Ensure procurement and supplier planning activities meet operational, compliance and quality requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across planning and supply chain processes.
• Support digital transformation projects and supply chain optimisation initiatives.
• Promote Lean principles and best practices throughout the supply chain function.
• Identify opportunities to enhance efficiency, reduce risk and improve overall supplier performance.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of supply chain professionals.
• Establish clear objectives and performance expectations.
• Support training, development and succession planning initiatives.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Encourage knowledge sharing and best practice adoption across the team.

Essential

• Minimum 5 years' experience in supplier planning, procurement planning, supply planning or supplier management within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of ERP/MRP systems and supply chain planning methodologies.
• Proven experience managing supplier performance and delivery improvement programmes.
• Strong knowledge of inventory planning and material management principles.
• Experience leading supplier reviews, escalation management and performance improvement activities.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel and data analysis tools.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a data-driven approach.

Desirable

• APICS, CPIM or equivalent supply chain qualification.
• Experience working within a complex manufacturing and assembly environment.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Green Belt certification or equivalent process improvement qualification.
• Experience leading digital transformation or supply chain optimisation initiatives.