Supply Chain Manager

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement supply chain plans aligned with production requirements, sales forecasts, customer commitments, and business growth.
• Lead the sales and operations planning process with Sales, Production, and Finance to balance demand, manufacturing capacity, inventory, and service levels.
• Oversee material requirements planning for ingredients and packaging materials, considering shelf life, supplier lead times, and storage conditions.
• Manage local and international sourcing, supplier evaluation, negotiations, and purchasing agreements.
• Work with Quality Assurance to approve suppliers and ensure purchased materials meet specifications, food safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Establish inventory policies, safety stock levels, and replenishment parameters to prevent shortages, excess stock, and expiry losses.
• Oversee ambient, chilled, and frozen warehousing, ensuring stock accuracy, batch traceability, segregation, and FEFO practices.
• Manage refrigerated transportation and frozen product distribution, maintaining specified temperatures throughout storage, loading, transit, and delivery.
• Select and manage freight forwarders, customs brokers, transporters, and third-party logistics providers against agreed service and performance standards.
• Manage import and export shipments in accordance with Saudi requirements, including coordination with ZATCA and SFDA.
• Oversee customs clearance activities through Fasah and relevant SFDA systems, coordinating registrations, approvals, inspections, and shipment release.
• Ensure shipment documentation is complete and accurate, including commercial invoices, packing lists, transport documents, certificates of origin, and health or halal certificates.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• At least 8 years of relevant supply chain experience, including 3-5 years in a managerial role within food manufacturing.
• Experience in frozen or temperature-controlled food supply chains is essential; industrial bakery experience is highly preferred.
• Practical experience managing food imports and exports in Saudi Arabia, including customs clearance, shipping documentation, and coordination with regulatory authorities and customs brokers.
• Strong working knowledge of ZATCA procedures, Fasah, and applicable SFDA food registration and clearance requirements.
• Experience managing international suppliers, freight forwarders, refrigerated transport providers, and third-party warehouses.
• Strong understanding of demand planning, material requirements planning, inventory optimization, FEFO, and batch traceability.
• Knowledge of Incoterms, freight arrangements, landed-cost analysis, and supplier contract negotiations.
• Familiarity with food safety, hygiene, allergen segregation, and cold-chain controls relevant to storage and distribution.
• Proficiency in ERP systems, inventory management tools, and Microsoft Excel.
• Professional certification such as CSCP, CPIM, or CIPS is an advantage.
• Strong English communication skills; Arabic is highly preferred.

Key Competencies

• Supply chain planning and analytical decision-making.
• Supplier negotiation and relationship management.
• Cost control and commercial awareness.
• Import and export compliance.
• Cross-functional coordination and team leadership.
• Risk management and timely problem-solving.
• Commitment to food safety, product integrity, and customer service.