Supply Chain & Operations Manager

About the Position

We are currently looking for a Supply Chain & Operations Manager to join the team in Delft.

S[&]T is expanding into the development and commercialisation of high-tech hardware products. As we move from product development towards production and scale-up, we are looking for someone who can help us build the operational foundation to make this possible.

As our Supply Chain & Operations Manager, you will have a unique opportunity to build and professionalise the supply chain and operations organisation from the ground up.

You will connect Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, Logistics, Testing, and Finance, making sure our products can be sourced, built, tested, and delivered reliably as we grow.

This is not a role where you simply manage an established supply chain. We are looking for a hands-on builder who enjoys creating processes, establishing supplier partnerships, solving operational challenges, and turning new products into scalable production.

Responsibilities

As our Supply Chain & Operations Manager, you will take end-to-end ownership of the operational side of our hardware products. You will:

• Build and implement a scalable supply chain and manufacturing model for our growing hardware portfolio.
• Select, qualify, and develop manufacturing partners, EMS providers, and key suppliers.
• Establish sourcing and procurement processes for electronic, mechanical, and other critical components.
• Develop supplier strategies and negotiate prices, lead times, quantities, payment terms, and commercial agreements.
• Work closely with Engineering to support the transition from product development and NPI into production.
• Establish processes for purchasing, assembly, production, logistics, and delivery.
• Develop inventory management, safety stock, and material availability processes.
• Identify and manage supply-chain risks, including component availability, lead times, and single-source dependencies.
• Establish external testing facilities and partnerships and support the development of internal laboratory capabilities.
• Ensure the right equipment, tooling, and measurement systems are available to support product development and production.
• Build and improve procurement, inventory, and supply-chain workflows in Odoo.
• Ensure reliable operational data across Purchasing, Inventory, Production, Engineering, and Finance.
• Develop KPIs and reporting to provide clear visibility of cost, quality, delivery, availability, and supply-chain risks.
• Continuously improve our operational processes as the product portfolio and organisation grow.

Requirements

You are a hands-on supply chain and operations professional who enjoys building things rather than simply maintaining established processes.

You are comfortable moving between strategic decisions and practical day-to-day challenges. You can negotiate with suppliers in the morning, work with engineers on a production issue in the afternoon, and improve an operational process the next day.

You bring:

• A Bachelor's degree / HBO level in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Technical Business Administration, Engineering Management, or a related field.
• Approximately 5–10 years of relevant experience in supply chain, procurement, operations, or manufacturing.
• Experience in a high-tech, electronics, or technology-driven product environment.
• Demonstrated experience with new product introduction (NPI), production scale-up, or the introduction of new products/product lines.
• Experience establishing or significantly improving supply chains, procurement processes, or manufacturing operations.
• Experience working with EMS providers, contract manufacturers, and component suppliers.
• Strong experience with sourcing and procurement of electronic and/or mechanical components.
• Experience negotiating commercial agreements with suppliers and external partners.
• Experience working with an ERP system and translating operational processes into practical workflows.
• The ability to work both strategically and hands-on.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A pragmatic, entrepreneurial, and solution-oriented mindset.

Experience that would be a plus

• Experience in Space, Defence, Aerospace, Automotive, Medical Technology, or another high-tech hardware environment.
• Experience in a start-up, scale-up, or fast-growing technology organisation.
• Experience building a supply chain from the ground up.
• Experience with NPI and transition to serial production.
• Experience with international suppliers and global supply chains.
• Experience with Odoo, ideally Odoo 19.
• Experience with quality, regulatory, or compliance requirements for high-tech hardware.
• Experience with project control, cost control, or forecasting.

We Offer

• Opportunity to build something from the ground up.
• Work closely with technical experts and management.
• Direct impact on how our products move from development into production and ultimately into the market.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

About the Company

At S[&]T, we contribute to a safer life on earth by translating space data into valuable and actionable insights. We oversee data from instruments to application and apply our expertise within our software frameworks, information products, and consultancy.

Our society relies on space and scientific instruments for climate change monitoring, navigation, defence, and national security, and other crucial services we all use in our daily lives. These instruments produce an enormous quantity of complex data, and our goal is to unlock its value.

We have more than 20 years of experience working on instrument calibration, the creation of data quality monitoring tools, the development of real-time data processing frameworks, and the development of application-specific algorithms. With this, we help organisations, governments, and industries to strengthen their information position and thereby improve their decision-making. We focus on the following domains: Space & Science, Defence & Security, Environment & Sustainability, and High-Tech Consulting.

How to Apply

Are you enthusiastic about becoming our new Supply Chain & Operations Manager? Apply via our application form, or send your CV and motivational letter directly to [email protected].

Kindly note that acquisition from third parties (e.g., agencies) based on this vacancy is not welcome.