Cluster Supply Chain Operations Leader

Job Description

Cluster Supply Chain Operations Leader

(Procurement‑Led, Multi‑Country Scope)

Role Purpose

The Cluster Supply Chain Operations Leader is accountable for end‑to‑end supply chain performance across a defined cluster of countries, with a primary focus on procurement, supplier management, and supply continuity. The role ensures that sourcing strategies, supplier governance, and risk management effectively support business growth, margin protection, and reliable execution.

Procurement acts as the primary value and risk‑management lever for the role. Logistics responsibilities are secondary, focused on governance, alignment, and escalation of in‑country logistics activities to ensure consistency with sourcing strategy and customer commitments. Day‑to‑day logistics execution remains within country teams.

The role operates in a complex matrix environment, partnering closely with Global, Regional, and Country stakeholders, and serves as the senior Supply Chain Operations representative at cluster level.

Key Responsibilities

1. Procurement Strategy & Value Leadership (Primary Accountability)

• Define and deploy Country/cluster‑level procurement and sourcing strategies aligned with global category direction and business priorities.
• Drive cost competitiveness, productivity, and value creation across cluster spend.
• Govern sourcing decisions, supplier selection, negotiation escalations, and major contract awards.
• Ensure procurement decisions balance cost, supply risk, service level, sustainability, and working capital objectives.

1. Supplier Governance & Risk Management

• Own Country/cluster‑level governance for critical and strategic suppliers.
• Define and enforce supplier qualification standards (e.g. RFI, SAM, SAM++) based on supplier criticality and risk exposure.
• Lead supplier risk identification, mitigation planning, and contingency strategies across the cluster.
• Proactively reduce exposure to single‑source, capacity‑constrained, or high‑risk suppliers.
• Oversee supplier performance across delivery, quality, commercial, and compliance dimensions.

1. Supply Assurance & Planning Enablement

• Govern demand-supply alignment to ensure procurement and sourcing strategies fully support commercial and project requirements.
• Influence lead‑time, inventory, and buffering strategies driven by supplier capability and sourcing models.
• Provide supply chain input into major bids, tenders, and strategic projects, focusing on supply assurance and sourcing risk.

1. Logistics Oversight (Secondary / Governance‑Focused)

• Provide Country/cluster‑level oversight and governance of in‑country logistics activities.
• Ensure alignment of Incoterms, logistics assumptions, and cost‑to‑serve models with sourcing strategies.
• Support country teams in managing logistics risk, delivery sequencing, and continuity challenges, without owning day‑to‑day execution.
• Act as escalation point for cross‑country logistics or supply disruptions impacting customer commitments.

1. Stakeholder & Matrix Leadership

• Lead and support Country Solutions Purchasers and Solutions Logistics Teams across the cluster, ensuring alignment with cluster procurement strategies, governance standards, and supply assurance objectives.
• Work closely with Country and Cluster Business stakeholders (Commercial, Tender, Project, Engineering, and Finance teams) to translate business priorities into effective sourcing and supply chain strategy decisions.
• Serve as the primary Supply Chain Operations escalation point for supplier performance, sourcing, and supply risk issues.
• Drive cross‑functional decision‑making, balancing cost, risk, service, and execution trade‑offs at cluster level.
• Ensure strong collaboration and consistent ways of working across procurement, logistics, and solution execution teams within the matrix organization.

1. Capability Building & Governance Maturity

• Standardize supply chain and procurement processes, KPIs, and governance frameworks across cluster countries.
• Build capability in supplier risk management, governance discipline, and analytics.
• Develop strong supply chain leadership pipelines and succession plans within the cluster.

• Procurement savings, productivity, and value delivery
• Supply continuity and reduction of supplier risk exposure
• Supplier performance (delivery, quality, compliance)
• Working capital and inventory impact driven by sourcing decisions
• Supply chain governance maturity and audit robustness

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Engineering, Business, or related discipline (MBA preferred).
• 15+ years of experience in Supply Chain and/or Procurement, including regional or multi‑country leadership roles.
• Strong background in strategic procurement, supplier management, and supply risk governance.
• Working knowledge of logistics and distribution models with ability to govern rather than execute.
• Proven success leading in complex, matrix‑based multinational organizations.
• Strong commercial, financial, and stakeholder management capability.

• Primary focus: Procurement operational leadership, supplier governance, supplier risk management
• Secondary focus: In‑country logistics oversight and escalation
• Typical level: Manager/Sr.Manager