Location: Hengelo, Netherlands

Supplier Performance Manager Thales Nederland B.V.

Join us in driving excellence: Become our next Supplier Performance Manager

Are you passionate about delivering results, resolving critical supply chain and production issues, building strong supplier partnerships, and setting the bar for operational excellence? At Thales Nederland we believe that the strength of our supply chain is a cornerstone of our success. We are looking for a dynamic Supplier Performance Manager to join our team—a decisive, results-driven, hands-on problem solver with an eye for detail and a heart for collaboration.

You will lead cross-functional teams focused on rapidly but also structurally resolving critical production, supply chain and technical issues related to suppliers. This role requires natural authority and empathy to establish connections with colleagues on all levels of the organization. Furthermore, you coordinate resources across functions, and implement effective solutions to minimize disruption and ensure project success. You are an excellent communicator.

In this vital role, you will be the catalyst for supplier success, ensuring that our partners consistently meet and exceed expectations in on-time delivery, conformity, and quality. Your leadership will empower suppliers to align with our high standards, driving continuous improvement and creating lasting impact across the value chain.

If you’re ready to lead with purpose, inspire operational excellence, and be a key player in shaping a resilient, high-performing supply network—this is your opportunity.

About the job

The Thales Nederland Procurement team is part of the Thales Group global Procurement organization. The  procurement of products and services within Thales Nederland and the Thales Group represents > 50% of the total turnover. The competitiveness and the supplier’s operational performance, and the quality of the interface between Thales and its suppliers, are key factors of competitiveness. 

The main objectives of a Supplier Performance Manager are to :

Manage the operational performance of suppliers in close cooperation with Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering, Services and Quality teams and ensure that all the conditions, internal and external, enabling performance are in place;Regular visit and connection with suppliers to identify risks and opportunities, anticipate upcoming crisis and take actions at timely manner to prevent itEnsure rapid problem solving at our suppliers and within Thales Nederland related to critical supply chain issues;Facilitate root cause analysis (RCA) and develop corrective and preventive action plans to resolve supplier issues;Monitor and report on issue resolution progress, ensuring timely communication with stakeholders and senior management;Initiate improvement plans for the selected suppliers in terms of OTD and OCD;As member of the Thales group Supplier Operations team, contribute to group initiatives to improve supplier performance at group level.
 

These main objectives result in the following main activities, focused on anticipation and continuous improvement but also acting in crisis situations and reporting on supplier Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

In case of a crisis in the supply chain, lead a local ‘Task Force’ and/or be part of a ‘Tiger Team’ at Thales Nederland or Group level;In order to manage the continuous improvement, put in place the Thales best practices, including lean manufacturing, with his/her suppliers;Deploy, with selected suppliers, corrective and preventive action plans which address process, product, or component alerts from supply chain or the customer;Improve the overall interface between Thales and the supplier;Develop and execute plans, with the selected suppliers,  to eliminate non-value add activities in both Thales and supplier processes, aimed at improving the quality and reliability of procured items;Participate and contribute to transverse optimization actions within Thales group;Establish high level communication and intimacy with supplier's leadership team and the Thales stakeholders;Identify transformation targets, support associated roadmap deployment and risk mitigation plans;Organize and conduct supplier performance reviews at suppliers in close coordination with procurement and other stakeholders;Validate and issue the supplier key performance indicators (SKPIs) including regular reporting to local stakeholders and group.

About you

Bachelor or Master degree in Engineering that fits with a Supplier Performance Manager role in the procurement team in a technically driven international company.Experience in industrial operations and processes. Knowledge of LEAN, FMEA, APQP, Continuous Improvement, SIX SIGMA is preferred.Excellent leadership and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and deliver results.Strong problem-solving, communication, negotiation and project management skills, with a proven track record of resolving complex supplier issues.Ability to lead under pressure and speed up the pace of the environment.Extremely structured and disciplined and able to build solutions in complex situations.Has experience with Electronic Data Processing tools like Oracle, MS-Office, BI, PDM.Is fluent in Dutch and English.

What's in it for you

Become part of a great team in a high tech, innovative international organization.(International) opportunities for growth in procurement, tech-, management- and commercial roles.Attention for personal development and own initiative.A nice workplace in a modern building, where we value a good work-life balance and flexibility.40 leave days per year, travel expenses and a flexible benefits à la carte package with options like purchase/sale of leave hours, internet costs, bicycle plan, company fitness, trade union contribution or relocation costs.

Interested?

Reach out for more information to our Talent Acquisition Partner Gerlof Jan Heck, via gerlofjan.heck@nl.thalesgroup.com.

Or Apply directly by clicking on the button below to upload your profile and show your interest.

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