Supply Chain Digital Transformation Lead

About the RoleThe Supply Chain Digital Transformation Lead is responsible for leading the end-to-end digital transformation of the supply chain function through the application of technology, data and artificial intelligence, spanning demand planning, supply planning, procurement, distribution and cost. It is accountable for identifying, evaluating and implementing the digital tools and applications that transform each process, and for leading the associated change through to adoption.Working across the planning, procurement, distribution, finance and technology teams, the role sets the digital transformation agenda, develops the business case for technology and artificial intelligence investment, and leads the selection, implementation and adoption of supply chain applications. The function leaders retain ownership of their processes and outcomes; the role partners with them to ideate, evaluate and deploy the right solutions and to strengthen the overall capability, efficiency and effectiveness of the supply chain.Key ResponsibilitiesA. Digital Strategy & Technology RoadmapDefine the multi-year technology and AI roadmap for the supply chain, prioritizing the tools and applications to be introduced across planning, sourcing, distribution and cost.Evaluate and select supply chain solutions through build-versus-buy assessment, vendor and platform evaluation, and proof-of-concept against clearly defined use cases.Build the business case for each technology investment, covering value at stake, cost and sequencing, and secure leadership alignment behind it.B. Planning Systems — Demand & SupplyIdentify, evaluate and implement Integrated Business Planning (IBP) and AI-based demand forecasting to replace spreadsheet-based, brand-wise planning, with the S&OP leader owning the planning process.Deploy the Auto-Replenishment System (ARS) and inventory-optimization tools for supply planning, working with the supply planning leader who owns norms and service levels.Configure the planning applications, integrations and data flows, and transition operational ownership to the planning leaders.C. Sourcing & Procurement SystemsEvaluate and implement e-sourcing and e-auction platforms, contract lifecycle management (CLM) and supplier relationship management (SRM), with the category leaders owning sourcing strategy and negotiations.Introduce spend analytics, should-cost and commodity-index tools to support category and cost decisions.Digitize supplier onboarding, performance scorecards and share-of-business tracking on a common platform.D. Warehouse, Logistics & Network SystemsWarehouse Management (WMS) and Transport Management (TMS) systemsDeploy network-optimization and route-optimisation tools to inform network design and secondary distribution.Implement a supply chain control tower for network-wide visibility, exception management and early-warning alerts.E. Cost, Analytics & Decision SystemsImplement cost-to-serve and costing-and-allocation tools that provide a clear, system-based view of where cost sits across the value chain, with SC Finance owning the numbers.F. Data, AI & Automation PlatformsIdentify and implement workflow automation and process automation to remove manual, repetitive tasks across supply chain processes.Establish the data foundation, master data and integration layer required for reliable analytics and AI across the applications landscape.Ideate, pilot and scale artificial intelligence and machine-learning use cases — such as forecasting, anomaly detection and prescriptive recommendations — in partnership with IT and solution providers.Key Projects & InitiativesThe role will lead a portfolio of digital initiatives that convert core supply chain processes from manual to system-run. Indicative programmers include:Advanced demand planning and AI-based forecasting — a statistical and machine-learning forecasting engine integrated with auto-replenishment.MRP automation in SAP (SAP-VC) — automated material requirement planning, purchase scheduling and vendor call-off.Auto-replenishment and auto-indent (ARS) — system-driven store and distribution-Centre replenishment based on demand signals.Supply chain control tower — a single, real-time view for exception management and early-warning alerts.Analytics and management dashboards (e.g., Tableau) — automated MIS, self-service reporting and Capex and new-store (NSO) pipeline tracking.Key RelationshipsInternalHead of Supply Chain Management & Logistics — reporting line and transformation sponsor.Demand Planning & S&OP, Supply Planning, Category Management & Procurement, Capex & NSO, and Warehouse, Logistics & Distribution, SC Finance — cost, costing analysis and value realization.IT, Digital and Business teams — joint partners in delivering supply chain technology and AI solutions and adopting the new ways of working.ExternalManagement consultants and transformation advisors.Supply chain benchmarking and best-practice networks.Key suppliers, 3PL and logistics partners.Technology, AI and solution providers.Qualifications & Experience7–12 years in supply chain, with a strong track record of leading technology- and AI-enabled transformation across planning, procurement and distribution.Bachelor's degree in engineering, Technology, Supply Chain or Operations; a postgraduate qualification (MBA / SCM) is preferred.Deep expertise in supply chain technology & tools including advanced planning, automation, analytics and AI/ML applications.Demonstrated success leading digital transformation programmers end to end, from strategy and business case through to implementation and adoption.Strong grounding in cost and costing analysis, value realization and business-case development.Exposure to QSR, food, FMCG or multi-site retail distribution, or a management-consulting background, is an advantage.Skills & CompetenciesDeep understanding of the end-to-end supply chain and its digital and AI enablement — demand and supply planning, procurement, distribution and cost.Strong command of supply chain technology and artificial intelligence, including advanced planning, automation, data and analytics.Strategic, structured problem-solving; able to design a target operating model and a roadmap to reach it.Programmer leadership across multiple concurrent workstreams and senior stakeholders.Change leadership — able to influence, challenge and land new ways of working without direct authority.Strong commercial and cost acumen; comfortable with costing analysis and value cases.Excellent communication and executive stakeholder management.A structured, outside-in mindset focused on continuous improvement and best practice