Supplier Support Manager
Full Time
Derby/Hybrid – With frequent travel both domestically and internationally (Up to 80% travel)
Are you an experienced operational leader who thrives in challenging environments and enjoys getting to the heart of complex problems?
We are looking for Supplier Support Managers to join our Aftermarket Supplier Support organisation.
This is a highly visible, hands-on role working on the biggest priorities for Aftermarket Operations. You will make a tangible difference to supplier performance, customer delivery and supply-chain resilience, gaining direct exposure to senior leaders through work that matters most to the business.
You will spend approximately 80% of your working time travelling domestically and internationally, working directly within supplier operations. You will deploy where intervention is required, rapidly understand the issues affecting delivery and work alongside suppliers and internal stakeholders to establish sustainable recovery.
This isn't simply about managing today's problem. Success means leaving the supplier with stronger processes, controls and capability that sustain performance after the intervention has ended.
What you will be doing
As a Supplier Support Manager, you will:
•Deploy into suppliers experiencing operational, capacity, quality or delivery challenges.
•Rapidly assess the situation and identify the underlying constraints preventing delivery.
•Establish clear recovery plans, priorities, governance and performance measures.
•Work directly with supplier leadership and operational teams to drive recovery activities.
•Apply structured problem-solving and Lean methodologies to remove constraints and improve operational performance.
•Challenge existing processes and ways of working where they are contributing to poor performance.
•Drive improvements across Quality, Cost and Delivery (QCD).
•Coordinate effectively across Supplier Management, Procurement, Planning, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality and Programme teams.
•Ensure risks are understood, escalated appropriately and supported by robust mitigation plans.
•Build strong relationships at all organisational levels while remaining confident in constructively challenging where performance needs to improve.
•Establish sustainable processes and controls before transitioning responsibility back to the appropriate supplier management organisation.
This approach is consistent with the established Operations Support model, taking supplier engagements from initial analysis through intervention, exit and handover, with a focus on establishing robust processes that prevent future supply-chain failure.
What we are looking for
You will be someone who is comfortable operating with pace, ambiguity and autonomy, and who can quickly build credibility in challenging operational environments.
You should bring:
•Strong operational or manufacturing experience.
•A proven track record of improving operational performance.
•Excellent problem-solving capability and practical experience applying Lean tools and techniques.
•Experience leading significant improvement, recovery or transformation activities.
•Strong planning, control and programme management capability.
•The ability to interpret operational data and turn analysis into tangible actions.
•Excellent communication, engagement and influencing skills.
•Confidence working with senior supplier and internal leadership teams.
•A collaborative approach combined with the resilience to challenge when required.
•The ability to establish trust quickly when entering difficult or high-pressure environments.
•Flexibility and willingness to travel extensively where business priorities require it.
•Engineering and SAP knowledge would be advantageous.
You could be working alongside a UK supplier one week and supporting an international supplier the next.
That exposure makes this a strong development role: you will build breadth across different businesses, manufacturing environments and operational challenges while working on the biggest priorities for Aftermarket Operations. These assignments bring direct exposure to senior leaders and opportunities to build credibility through the improvements you deliver.
It is an opportunity to:
•Take ownership of high-priority operational and supply-chain challenges.
•Develop broader operational and commercial experience.
•Work across organisational and geographical boundaries on Aftermarket Operations' biggest priorities.
•Gain direct exposure to supplier leadership and senior internal leaders through high-priority recovery and improvement work.
•Develop your leadership, problem-solving and influencing capability.
•Build the breadth of experience, relationships and visibility to support your future career progression.
Go where the challenge is. Understand it. Fix it. Make the improvement stick.
Why Rolls-Royce?
At Rolls-Royce, we are creating a high-performing, competitive, resilient and growing business, and the strength of our supply chain is fundamental to achieving that ambition.
Joining Supplier Support gives you the opportunity to make a direct and visible contribution to that journey.
You will work where operational leadership really matters: alongside suppliers, tackling critical issues affecting our ability to deliver and helping establish sustainable solutions.
The role offers considerable breadth through exposure to different suppliers, operational challenges and locations. For people looking to broaden their experience and progress their careers, Supplier Support provides the opportunity to work across organisational and geographical boundaries while addressing some of the operational challenges that matter most to our business.
At Rolls-Royce, you will also join a culture focused on caring and belonging, listening to feedback, acting with integrity and investing in continuous learning and development, with access to a broad breadth and depth of opportunities to grow your career and make a difference.
Grade - Level C
Hiring Manager - Paul Stewart
Job Category: Service Operations
