Are you an experienced Supply Chain leader who thrives in complex multi-site manufacturing environments and knows how to turn data into business results? Do you enjoy balancing strategy and operations while connecting people, processes, and production sites across an international organization? Are you ready to take ownership of the supply chain performance of multiple paper mills and help shape the future growth of our Paper Division?
As Supply Chain Manager, reporting directly to the CEO of the Paper Division, you will lead the end-to-end supply chain activities across our paper mills. You will play a crucial role in aligning demand, production, inventory, logistics, and customer service to ensure operational excellence, high service levels, and sustainable profitability.
As a member of the Paper Division Leadership Team, you will work closely with Sales, Procurement, Operations, Finance, Customer Service, Plant Managers to drive performance, optimize working capital, and support future growth initiatives in an international environment.
What will you do?
- Develop and execute the Supply Chain strategy in line with the objectives of the Paper Division.
- Lead the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process and ensure alignment between demand, supply, inventory, and production capacity.
- Drive demand planning, supply planning, inventory optimization, forecasting, and replenishment activities.
- Optimize production planning and asset utilization across multiple paper mills.
- Manage logistics and transportation activities to deliver excellent customer service at the lowest possible total cost.
- Lead network optimization and continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain organization.
- Establish, monitor, and improve key performance indicators that drive operational excellence.
- Manage supply chain budgets and contribute to cost reduction and working capital improvement targets.
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing international supply chain team.
- Build strong collaboration between supply chain teams, planners, logistics teams, and operations across different sites.
- Act as the connecting link between local operations and divisional objectives.
- Support the supply of paper products to approximately 30 manufacturing sites within the group.
- Partner closely with internal stakeholders including Plant Managers, Logistics teams, Supply Chain teams, Sales, Procurement, Finance, and Customer Service.
- Ensure strong local follow-up while maintaining a group-wide perspective.
- Travel regularly to the different sites to stay connected with the teams, operational challenges, and improvement opportunities.
- Contribute to future expansion, acquisition, and integration projects across the division.
Who are you?
- You hold a Master's degree in Commercial Engineering, Business Economics, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a comparable analytical discipline.
- You bring at least 10 years of relevant leadership experience in Supply Chain within a manufacturing environment.
- Experience within the paper industry is a strong asset.
- Experience within packaging, chemicals, steel, plastics, building materials, tires, consumer goods, food production, recycling, or other process industries is highly relevant.
- More importantly, you have experience in a multi-site manufacturing and/or multi-site supply chain environment.
- Experience with integrations, acquisitions, organizational transformations, or complex business environments is a strong advantage.
- You have a solid background in S&OP, production planning, inventory management, logistics, forecasting, and supply chain optimization.
- You understand manufacturing constraints and can translate operational realities into effective planning decisions.
- You combine a strategic mindset with a hands-on approach and remain close to the operation.
- You are highly analytical and use data, KPIs, and facts to drive decision-making.
- You have strong numerical and problem-solving skills.
- You are capable of maintaining oversight in a complex international environment with multiple stakeholders and locations.
- You are an experienced people leader with a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams and driving change.
- You are a strong communicator who can build bridges between teams, departments, and locations.
- You know how to operate successfully in a matrix organization.
- You are diplomatic, pragmatic, and able to align different stakeholder interests.
- You can switch effortlessly between operational discussions and executive-level conversations.
- You are fluent in English and comfortable working in an international environment. Knowledge of French is important, while Dutch is a welcome addition but not a requirement.
- Knowledge of SAP, OMP (OM Partners), or similar ERP and planning systems is a plus.
- Experience gained in consultancy environments can also be relevant, provided you have strong exposure to manufacturing and supply chain operations.
What do we offer?
- A challenging leadership role with significant impact on the future performance and growth of our Paper Division.
- A key position within the Paper Division Leadership Team.
- End-to-end responsibility across an international network of paper mills and supply chain operations.
- The opportunity to shape supply chain strategy and drive operational excellence across multiple manufacturing sites.
- An international role
- The chance to lead complex supply chain optimization and continuous improvement projects.
- Active involvement in future growth initiatives, acquisitions, and integration projects.
- The opportunity to help build a resilient, customer-focused, and future-proof supply chain organization.
- A hands-on and entrepreneurial culture where ownership, collaboration, and pragmatism are valued.
- An extensive onboarding and transition program of at least six months to ensure a successful integration into the role and organization.
- The opportunity to further broaden your responsibilities as the organization continues to grow.
- Exposure to complex international supply chain processes across multiple paper manufacturing sites.
- Flexible working arrangements, including the possibility to work partly from home.
- A competitive salary package complemented by attractive fringe benefits.
- This position is based in Aalst, with regular travel to the different paper mills within the division. If you are energized by complexity, enjoy working at the intersection of strategy and operations, and want to make a visible impact across an international manufacturing network, we would love to meet you.
Who are we?
- Our Paper division produces approximately 1.5 million tonnes of paper for packaging applications each year, using 100% recycled paper and cardboard.
- We operate nine paper machines across 7 sites in Europe, where paper production takes place in a highly automated process manufacturing environment.
- Our production processes run through closed, interconnected systems of machines, making paper manufacturing a complex and technologically advanced operation.
- Our company culture is built around four strong core values: Ownership, Trust, Care & Beyond. These values serve as our moral compass and guide the way we work, collaborate, and grow every day.
- At VPK Group, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. We value diversity and encourage applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, age, ethnic or cultural background, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, or disability. We believe everyone deserves to feel welcome, respected, and valued, and we look forward to the unique talents and perspectives you can bring to our team.
