Supply Chain Optimisation Lead - High Performance

About the Role

We're looking for a highly motivated and analytical Supply Chain Optimisation Lead to join our High Performance team and play a key role in shaping the future of planning and scheduling across our cluster.

This is a brand-new position offering a unique opportunity to work across five manufacturing sites, partnering with Supply Chain Managers, Site Leadership Teams, Operations and Commercial functions to optimise planning performance, improve service levels, and drive operational excellence.

The successful candidate will lead the development and implementation of cluster-wide planning, scheduling and Sales & Operations Execution (S&OE) processes, ensuring customer demand and production capability remain aligned across a 1 to 12-week planning horizon.

This role is ideal for ambitious individuals looking to accelerate their supply chain career by gaining exposure to transformation projects, data analytics, ERP systems, leadership responsibilities and strategic decision-making.

Key responsibilities

As Supply Chain Optimisation Lead, you will take ownership of a number of areas

• Lead and coordinate the cluster's S&OE process, ensuring customer demand and production capacity remain balanced across a 1 to 12-week planning horizon.
• Drive scheduling optimisation activities across five sites, delivering efficiencies, standardising processes and improving performance.
• Analyse data from multiple ERP systems to produce meaningful reports, identify trends and support business decision-making.
• Lead cluster-wide optimisation initiatives, including inventory, board grade, paper utilisation and strategic planning projects.
• Facilitate planning forums and best practice sharing, helping to develop capability and resilience across the planning community.
• Partner with Supply Chain Managers, Operations and site leadership teams to deliver continuous improvement and operational excellence.

What We're Looking For

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent).
• Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Data Analytics or related discipline is advantageous.
• ILM Level 3 Leadership qualification or equivalent experience is desirable.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of planning and scheduling processes.
• Knowledge of S&OE and supply chain optimisation principles.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Confidence working with large data sets and reporting tools.
• Strong ERP systems knowledge and ability to extract and interpret data.
• Understanding of inventory management and supply chain planning concepts.
• Project management capability.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience
• We welcome applications from colleagues who have demonstrated strong potential through graduate, planning, operations or supply chain roles, including:
• Experience working within manufacturing, FMCG or supply chain environments.
• Experience using ERP systems and operational data to drive decisions.
• Exposure to planning, scheduling, customer service or supply chain processes.
• Experience improving processes or supporting business change initiatives.
• Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels, from shop floor teams to senior leadership.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays
• Pension, life assurance and income protection
• Employee Assistance Program
• Digital GP and Health Checks
• Retail and leisure discounts
• Cycle to work scheme

Location: Hybrid Role – working across Hinckley, Birmingham (Smethwick), Crumlin, Reddith and Wirral

About us

We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!

Fair recruitment at DS Smith

To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria