Supply Chain Manager (South Africa)

Simera Sense is a leading provider of Earth observation camera solutions for the global small satellite market. Committed to excellence and innovation, we deliver superior products and services to our worldwide customer base.

Are you ready to shape the future of supply chain excellence in one of South Africa's leading high tech engineering environments? We are seeking a dynamic, strategically minded Supply Chain Manager to lead our end to end supply chain operations and support the delivery of cutting edge engineering solutions.

In this pivotal role, you will drive operational efficiency, build resilient supplier networks, optimise logistics, and ensure seamless integration across procurement, manufacturing, and project teams. If you are passionate about innovation, thrive in a fast paced technical environment, and are committed to delivering world class supply chain performance, we'd like to meet you.

Position Type: Full time

Remote Opportunity: No

Report To: Managing Director ZA

Location: Somerset West, South Africa

Job Purpose Ensures the reliable, timely, and compliant delivery of high precision components and materials by leading the supply chain function, optimising supplier and internal processes, and enabling critical production and engineering outcomes.

Responsibilities Key Supply Chain Cost and Inventory Controls

• Prepare procurement and budget forecasts to assist financial planning.

Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Provide internal stakeholders with clear visibility of supply chain status, risks, and mitigation plans.
• Prepare supply chain readiness inputs for programme reviews, development milestones, production strategies, and executive updates.
• Build trust across teams by ensuring transparency, reliability, and responsiveness.

Strategic Supply Chain Leadership

• Develop and execute a supply chain strategy aligned with development, production, and operational objectives.
• Translate production strategy and development schedules into supply chain capability plans, ensuring readiness for rapid scaling and timely securing of long lead items.
• Anticipate internal bottlenecks and proactively adjust sourcing, inventory, and logistics plans to support company growth and programme timelines.

Cross Functional Collaboration & Alignment

• Act as the primary interface between Production, Development, Quality, Manufacturing, Finance, and Programme Management to ensure supply chain decisions support technical requirements and operational goals.
• Facilitate cross functional reviews for supplier readiness, manufacturability, change control, and risk mitigation.
• Ensure clear communication of requirements, timelines, and constraints across departments to maintain alignment and accountability.

High Precision Component & Material Management

• Oversee the planning, procurement, and traceability of critical components-such as optical assemblies, aerospace grade electronics, precision mechanics, and specialised materials.

Internal Supplier Performance Oversight

• Collaborate with Development, Production, and Quality teams to ensure internal acceptance criteria and technical standards are well understood, documented, and consistently applied.
• Ensure timely internal sign off processes (FAIs, test reports, quality checks) to prevent delays in production and integration.
• Close internal feedback loops on supplier performance, NCRs, deviations, and change requests, ensuring lessons learned are captured and acted upon.

Production & Inventory Synchronisation

• Drive accurate material requirements planning (MRP) based on MBOMs, production schedules, and development project timelines.
• Lead internal coordination to ensure availability of long lead items and critical components without overstocking high value inventory.
• Maintain strict batch control, serialisation, and traceability processes aligned with company processes and standards.

Risk Management & Contingency Planning

• Identify and communicate risks associated with component availability, obsolescence, supplier constraints, internal readiness.
• Lead cross functional mitigation efforts, such as buffer strategies, alternative sourcing, and schedule adjustments.
• Maintain internal risk registers and ensure dependencies between functions are clearly mapped and actively managed.

Process Optimisation & Continuous Improvement

• Champion supply chain process integration across departments (ERP, PLM, quality systems).
• Identify inefficiencies in internal workflows and drive initiatives to improve lead time accuracy, documentation quality, throughput, and cross team accountability.
• Implement KPIs and dashboards to monitor internal supply chain performance and support data driven decisions.

Compliance, Governance & Internal Standards

• Ensure teams follow industry specific compliance requirements (e.g., ECSS, ISO 9001, AS9100, ITAR/EAR where applicable).
• Maintain high internal discipline around controlled documents, supplier data packages, audits, and quality records.
• Support internal readiness for customer audits and industry certifications.

Team Leadership & Direction

• Lead, mentor, and develop the supply chain team, setting clear priorities and building capability in technical, operational, and supplier facing skills.
• Drive high performance through structured feedback, accountability, and resource allocation that aligns with operational programme needs.
• Cultivate a collaborative, solution driven culture with strong communication, disciplined workflows, and adherence to aerospace grade process standards.

Required Qualifications Bachelor's Degree or Advanced Diploma in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related technical/engineering field

Required Experience Minimum Required Experience 7-10 years of progressive experience in supply chain, procurement, materials management, or operations within a complex engineering or manufacturing environment.

Experience must include:

• Managing high precision, engineered components (e.g., aerospace, defence, space systems, electronics, optics, or advanced mechanical assemblies).
• Working with engineering and quality teams on technical specifications, drawings, MBOMs, and qualification processes.
• Planning and procurement of long lead, high value components with high traceability and compliance requirements.
• Exposure to regulated, standards driven industries (AS9100, ISO 9001, ECSS or similar).
• Demonstrated track record in supplier management, including sourcing, performance oversight, NCR/DR handling, and contract negotiation.
• Experience with ERP/PLM systems and data driven supply chain planning.
• At least 3 years in a supervisory or team lead capacity, managing buyers, planners, or supply chain specialists.

Technical competencies required Supply Chain Planning & Operations

• Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
• Demand forecasting and capacity planning
• Inventory management, including stock, EOQ, and high value/long lead component control
• Logistics and distribution management, including import/export processes and INCOTERMS
• Cost modelling and total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis

Procurement & Strategic Sourcing

• Strategic sourcing methodologies (category management, supplier segmentation, competitive bidding)
• Contract management (terms & conditions, SLAs, warranty, IP considerations)
• Advanced negotiation skills, cost breakdown analysis, and supplier cost driver understanding
• Supplier qualification and assessment techniques, including audits and capability evaluations
• Obsolescence management for space grade electronic and mechanical components

Engineering & Technical Acumen

• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and technical specifications
• Understanding of manufacturing processes: machining, precision optics, electronics, composites, PCB assembly, and other space sector methods
• Knowledge of MBOM (Manufacturing Bill of Materials) management, configuration control, and change management.
• Knowledge of space industry standards and requirements: ECSS, AS9100, ISO 9001
• Material science basics, especially for aerospace alloys, composites, optics, and electronics

Quality & Compliance

• Supplier quality management (FAI, PPAP, NCR management, deviation processes)
• Traceability and serialisation requirements for high precision components
• Risk management frameworks, FMEA understanding, and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) processes
• Export control compliance (ITAR/EAR where applicable)
• Understanding of assurance requirements and documentation

Digital Systems & Data Competence

• Proficiency in ERP systems.
• PLM systems (Teamcenter preferred) for managing engineering data and change control
• Intermediate to advanced data analytics skills (Excel, Power BI, dashboards, reporting)
• Understanding of supply chain digitalisation, workflow automation, and data integrity practices

Project & Programme Management

• Integrated schedule management and dependency tracking
• Familiarity with project lifecycle stages (concept design qualification production launch readiness)
• Risk, cost, and schedule trade off analysis
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