Head of Supply Chain and Manufacturing Planning
Templecombe based, with relocation support available for candidates living further afield.
Shape the supply chain and planning operations that powers multi‑million‑pound underwater defence contracts at the heart of national security.
Our Opportunity
At Thales Underwater Systems, you’d be joining a centre of excellence in naval sonar and underwater technology. The Templecombe site plays a key role in designing, developing and producing world-leading sonar and communications systems used on submarines, surface vessels and maritime platforms for the Royal Navy and international navies. With strong heritage in anti-submarine and mine-warfare capabilities and significant ongoing investment in high-tech manufacturing, this business contributes to critical defence-grade products that enhance global maritime security and support sovereign UK capability.
In this role, you’ll take responsibility for coordinating the flow of materials and information across the supply chain, from our suppliers right through to our customers. You’ll play a key part in strengthening the professionalism of the function—shaping processes, developing the team, sharing knowledge, and driving continuous improvement.
You’ll also work closely with our production teams across two Thales sites, supporting them with clear objectives, timely responses to operational issues, and the tools they need to operate confidently and independently
Alongside this, you’ll lead the planning function and its governance, ensuring that material and resource planning aligns with the company’s operating plans.
You’ll also take responsibility for the smooth running of logistics, whether in‑house or through third‑party partners.
Key tasks/Responsibilities:
Develop multi-functional relationships to become the link between the business and the manufacturing function.
Contribute to the Industrial and Commercial S&OP (sales and operations planning) with the domain and to developing the Production plan.
Coordinate and compile the S&OP Supply Plan for the site, ensuring viable supply chain plans are in place to meet business requirements, and that material, resource, and capacity constraints are identified and addressed.
Plan all requirements—including spares and repairs—within the Procurement and Production Plan driven by the entity’s ERP system.
Oversee central planning activities for all production programmes and contracts, ensuring the creation of viable, efficient production schedules.
About You
You’re an effective people leader first and foremost—someone who brings clarity, builds confidence, and creates the conditions for teams to do their best work.
You handle complexity with a calm, steady approach, guiding diverse groups through challenging situations. Even when the pressure is on, you stay composed and help the team stay focused and moving forward.
Alongside this, you’ve built your career across the supply chain, gaining experience in areas such as planning, procurement, manufacturing, delivery, supplier quality, and logistics. You understand how these pieces fit together and you’re confident connecting them to keep operations running smoothly. You bring solid knowledge of production and repair processes, as well as hands‑on experience with MRP2 practices. You also have a proven track record in senior planning type roles ideally within an industrial environment, and you’re comfortable managing inventory and flow‑management methods in a practical, grounded way.
Flexibility
Your health and well-being matter to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.
If you are interested in this role, we would encourage you to have informal chat with the Talent Acquisition Partner.
Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity, and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.
This role will require SC Clearance. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant will undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.
To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.
For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the National Security Vetting (NSV) Agency - United Kingdom Security Vetting - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.
At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.
Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.
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