Supply Chain Director

Job description

ABOUT US At TOPPAN Security, our mission is to shape a meaningful, technology-driven future by being a global leader in mission-critical identity and payment technologies. We serves as the international development arm of the TOPPAN Group in the security domain founded in 1900. TOPPAN is a trusted Japanese brand renowned for its commitment to exceptional quality. Building on this legacy, we combine bold ideas, deep sector expertise, and collaborative intelligence to deliver secure, future-ready solutions. Our culture is grounded in four core values: Agility , Ownership , Resilience , and a Sense of Fun . We move fast, lead with accountability, grow through challenges, and bring positive energy into everything we do. Join us and be part of a global, collaborative team where trust and innovation drive everything we do. Position: Supply Chain Director Department : Supply Chain Reports to: Deputy CEO Location : Addis Ababa POSITION SUMMARY The Supply Chain Director provides end-to-end strategic and operational leadership for the full supply chain function, including procurement and strategic sourcing, expediting and order management, traffic and logistics, international freight, customs clearance, supplier quality, inventory and warehouse coordination, ERP discipline, contract management, and supply chain reporting. The Director is accountable for the performance, work allocation, prioritization and deliverables of the supply chain team, ensuring that goods and services are sourced and delivered on time, within approved budgets, at the required quality, and in full compliance with applicable regulations and company policies. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Supply Chain Strategy, Governance & Performance · Develop and execute an integrated supply chain strategy aligned with business objectives, project plans, demand forecasts, inventory requirements and financial targets. · Own the department’s annual and quarterly operating plans, priorities, budgets, resource plans, risk register and performance scorecard. · Establish clear policies, procedures, approval controls, service levels and escalation routes across procurement, logistics, customs, inventory and supplier management. · Identify and deliver cost reduction, working-capital improvement, lead-time reduction, risk mitigation and process optimization opportunities. · Use data, benchmarks and root-cause analysis to drive continuous improvement and make timely management decisions. 2. Leadership, Accountability & Team Management · Lead the full Supply Chain and Logistics teams across relevant locations and functions; create clear role ownership and a disciplined operating rhythm. · Translate business priorities into team workplans, assign tasks and work packages, set deadlines and expected outputs, and ensure resources are appropriately allocated. · Hold team members accountable for assigned tasks, quality, accuracy, timeliness and closure; intervene early when deliverables are at risk. · Set individual and team KPIs, conduct regular performance reviews, coach staff, address performance gaps and build succession and development plans. · Run structured team meetings and one-to-one reviews covering priorities, overdue actions, procurement status, shipments, customs cases, supplier issues and risks. · Build a culture of ownership, transparency, collaboration, ethical conduct, urgency, documentation discipline and continuous improvement. · Ensure adequate cross-training and coverage so critical supply chain activities continue during absence, peak workload or operational disruption. 3. Purchasing, Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Negotiation · Lead all procurement activities from supplier identification and market assessment through RFI/RFP/RFQ, bid evaluation, negotiation, contracting, purchase order issuance and supplier performance management. · Personally lead or oversee high-value, high-risk and strategic supplier negotiations covering price, payment terms, lead time, warranties, Incoterms, service levels, penalties, quality obligations and contractual risk. · Develop annual procurement plans based on demand forecasts, project timelines, inventory levels and approved budgets. · Establish framework agreements and long-term supplier contracts to improve price stability, supply security and service performance. · Oversee market-rate checks, purchase committee processes, procurement documentation and approval compliance; report outcomes regularly. · Manage procurement of materials in Dynamics 365 / ERP with local suppliers and internal entities, coordinating production and supply to achieve on-time and in-full delivery. · Collaborate closely with the global supply chain team and ensure local sourcing and supplier processes meet global assessment and governance requirements. · Ensure new suppliers, vendors and items are correctly created, maintained and updated in the ERP. 4. Supplier Relationship, Quality & Contract Management · Own strategic supplier relationships and establish appropriate governance, review cadence and escalation mechanisms. · Qualify new suppliers through global assessment processes, audits, technical evaluations, compliance checks and commercial due diligence. · Conduct regular supplier performance evaluations based on delivery, quality, cost, responsiveness, documentation and corrective-action closure. · Manage supplier non-conformances, claims and disputes; ensure corrective and preventive action plans are agreed, implemented and verified. · Partner with QA/QC and technical teams to define and enforce supplier quality standards. · Maintain contract visibility, monitor expiry and renewal dates, and ensure suppliers comply with agreed commercial and operational obligations. 5. Expediting, Order Management & Delivery Assurance · Own purchase-order performance from issuance through production, shipment, customs clearance and final delivery. · Maintain accurate PO and delivery tracking, comparing actual supply, production and shipment status against plans, targets, deadlines and expected outputs. · Establish proactive expediting routines with suppliers; recover delayed orders and resolve bottlenecks before they affect operations or projects. · Coordinate with internal departments to align delivery schedules with operational requirements and site readiness. · Escalate critical delays with clear recovery plans, owners, dates and management visibility. · Produce reliable status reports and ensure open actions are followed through to documented closure. 6. Traffic, Logistics, Freight Forwarding & Transport · Direct all inbound and outbound transportation, including domestic and international shipments by air, sea and land. · Select, negotiate with and manage freight forwarders, transporters and third-party logistics providers (3PLs), including rates, routes, service levels, claims and performance. · Determine the most appropriate transportation mode and routing based on cost, urgency, cargo characteristics, risk, regulatory requirements and delivery commitments. · Manage traffic and logistics issues including route constraints, port or border delays, demurrage/detention exposure, damaged or short shipments, documentation gaps and carrier performance failures. · Ensure shipment planning, booking, documentation, tracking, receipt and proof-of-delivery processes are controlled and visible. · Develop and activate contingency plans for logistics disruption, capacity constraints, security issues or other events that threaten delivery. 7. Customs Clearance, Trade Compliance & Import/Export Control · Serve as the senior accountable owner for customs handling and clearance, with strong practical knowledge of end-to-end import and export processes. · Ensure accurate and timely preparation and validation of commercial invoices, packing lists, HS classifications/codes, certificates of origin, permits, exemptions and other required customs documentation. · Coordinate and, where necessary, directly engage with customs brokers, freight forwarders, banks, ports, regulatory authorities and internal stakeholders to secure timely clearance. · Review customs declarations and supporting documents for accuracy, valuation, classification, origin, Incoterms and applicable duties/taxes before submission where required. · Proactively resolve customs holds, queries, inspections, valuation or classification disputes, missing permits and documentation discrepancies. · Monitor changes in trade compliance laws, import/export regulations and customs procedures and ensure team practices remain compliant. · Maintain complete import/export and customs records, support audits and ensure all clearance cases are traceable from shipment initiation to release and delivery. 8. Inventory, Warehouse & Materials Coordination · Coordinate procurement, inbound supply and warehouse/inventory teams to align stock levels with demand, project requirements and procurement plans. · Minimize excess inventory, slow-moving stock and stockouts through disciplined demand planning, replenishment and stock monitoring. · Apply inventory optimization methods such as ABC analysis, EOQ, safety stock and reorder-point principles as appropriate. · Investigate material shortages, stock discrepancies and supply gaps and ensure corrective actions are implemented. · Support accurate material master data and transaction discipline across ERP and warehouse processes. 9. Financial, ERP & Cross-Functional Control · Manage supply chain budgets, logistics and freight costs, cost-saving initiatives and commercial commitments within delegated authority. · Partner with Finance to resolve procurement, supply chain, stock and supplier invoice queries promptly and prevent payment or receipt delays. · Ensure ERP data, purchase orders, supplier records, item records, delivery dates and status information are accurate and current. · Work closely with Finance, Projects, Operations and Warehouse to resolve cross-functional issues. 10. Risk Management, Reporting & Executive Communication · Maintain a live supply chain risk and issue register covering supplier, logistics, customs, inventory, commercial and compliance risks. · Escalate material risks early with quantified impact, options, recommendations, accountable owners and recovery dates. · Provide concise, decision-oriented reports to the leadership team on procurement, logistics, customs, supplier performance, cost, delivery, inventory and team performance. · Ensure lessons learned from disruptions, supplier failures and customs/logistics issues are converted into preventive controls and improved processes. QUALIFICATIONS Education · Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field. · Master's degree preferred. · Professional certification such as CSCP, Lean Six Sigma, or equivalent is highly desirable. Experience · 10+ years of progressive experience in supply chain, procurement, logistics, or related functions, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role. · Proven experience in strategic sourcing, supplier and contract management, inventory planning, logistics, and international trade operations. · Strong working knowledge of Incoterms, customs documentation, HS classification principles, import/export controls and trade compliance. · Experience using ERP systems; Dynamics 365 experience is an advantage. CORE COMPETENCIES · Executive leadership with strong ownership, decisiveness and accountability. · Ability to lead, coach and hold a multidisciplinary team accountable for work assignments and results. · Advanced supplier negotiation, strategic sourcing and commercial judgement. · High confidence and practical competence in customs handling, customs clearance and import/export compliance. · Strong traffic, freight forwarding, transportation and logistics problem-solving capability. · Contract management, supplier quality and performance management. · Strategic and operational planning, prioritization and risk management. · Financial acumen, cost control, budget oversight and total-cost analysis. · Strong analytical capability and disciplined use of KPIs, trackers and management reporting. · Clear executive communication, stakeholder management and cross-functional influence. · High integrity, procurement ethics and compliance orientation. TOPPAN is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, or disability.