Senior Supply Chain/Project Manager - 6m contractor Inside IR35 or Fixed Term

We are looking for a sub contractor (Inside IR35) highly motivated and experienced to work on a Landing Gear project for a 6 month duration. The role is based on Naples, Southern Italy and remote or hybrid working arrangements are not possible.

Travelling to the UK or to France for a short periods of activity for coordination purposes or participation in specific meetings might be expected.

Due to the nature of the programme, nationality is an important consideration, preference nationality is: UK, German, Spanish, Italian. Any dual nationality should be specified and any candidate not holding the above listed nationalities will require specific vetting before being approved.

This role requires an individual who can influence at all levels, establish effective recovery plans, drive accountability, and mitigate risks to production and customer delivery schedules.

The resource will act as the primary escalation point between stakeholders, ensuring that supplier performance issues are identified early, managed proactively, and resolved effectively.

Key Responsibilities:

Supplier Recovery & Performance Management:

• Develop and implement supplier recovery plans with clear milestones, actions, ownership, and timelines
• Conduct regular performance reviews and governance meetings with supplier leadership teams
• Challenge supplier assumptions and commitments through fact-based analysis and programme metrics
• Drive sustainable recovery plan rather than short-term containment measures

Programme Delivery:

• Ensure supplier performance supports programme milestones, customer commitments, and production schedules
• Monitor delivery, quality, cost, capacity, and operational risks across the supply chain
• Identify critical path issues and coordinate mitigation plans with cross-functional teams
• Escalate supplier risks appropriately and provide clear visibility to senior leadership

Stakeholder Management:

• Build effective relationships with supplier executives, operations leaders, procurement teams, engineering functions, and manufacturing sites
• Act as the interface between suppliers and internal programme teams
• Influence stakeholders without direct authority to achieve programme objectives
• Facilitate executive-level discussions where supplier engagement or responsiveness is limited

Description of work:

• Maintain Line of Balance for OE and Spares production
• Create and maintain Line of Balance for repair activity
• Identify points of failures from Line of Balance and escalate these to Customer Programme team and Supplier Operations team
• Short term Line of Balance to be reviewed with Customer team on a weekly basis
• Long term Line of Balance to be reviewed on a monthly basis
• Establish and implement tools to closely monitor PO Coverage by Supplier to their suppliers and ensure that it is in line with forecasted production schedule
• Establish and implement tools to closely monitor execution of POs from Supplier to their suppliers, with particular attention to payment and delivery schedules
• Global KPI and status to be reviewed with Customer on a monthly basis with update on action plan on a weekly basis
• Coordinate with existing onsite implant to ensure that they are expediting and following the most critical production flow items
• Develop a reporting structure both with Supplier team and Customer team to ensure efficient flow of information and alignment on priorities

Requirements

• Significant programme management experience within aerospace, defence, advanced manufacturing, or highly regulated industries
• Proven track record of recovering underperforming suppliers and managing complex supply chain challenges
• Experience leading cross-functional teams across procurement, engineering, manufacturing, quality, and logistics
• Demonstrated success influencing suppliers that are resistant to escalation or slow to respond
• Experience working with executive stakeholders both internally and externally
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production planning, and supply chain management
• Experience managing programme risks, recovery plans, and critical-path activities
• Fluent spoken and written English
• Fluency in Italian is an advantage but bot mandatory
• Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing capability.
• Strong negotiation and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in high-pressure delivery environments.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of supplier contracts.
• Ability to challenge constructively while maintaining productive supplier relationships.
• Excellent presentation and executive reporting skills.

Benefits