Supply Chain Manager - Fitness & Sports Equipment

Job purpose: To lead the end-to-end supply chain for BeFit's fitness and sports equipment business, from demand planning and international sourcing to warehousing, delivery and installation. The role ensures the right products are available at the right cost and time for retail, commercial and home fitness customers, while controlling inventory, logistics costs and service levels. Key accountabilities. Demand planning and inventory • Lead demand and supply planning for fitness equipment, accessories and spare parts, working with Retail, Commercial and Home Fitness sales teams. • Set stock levels, reorder points and safety stock by product category to balance availability against working capital. • Manage slow-moving, aged and obsolete stock, and propose clearance or return actions. • Ensure stock accuracy through cycle counts, reconciliations and variance investigations. Procurement and supplier management • Manage relationships with international fitness equipment brands and suppliers (Europe, USA and Asia), including order placement, lead times and production follow-up. • Negotiate pricing, payment terms, incoterms and freight costs together with management and Finance. • Monitor supplier performance on delivery, quality and warranty claims. Imports, shipping and customs • Plan and manage inbound shipments (FCL, LCL and air freight) for bulky equipment. • Coordinate with freight forwarders and clearing agents on customs clearance, duties, documentation and product registrations. • Track landed costs and identify savings in freight and clearance. Warehouse operations • Oversee warehouse receiving, storage, picking, packing, transfers and dispatch. • Ensure safe handling and storage of heavy and bulky equipment, and compliance with health and safety standards. • Optimise warehouse layout, space utilisation and third-party logistics (3PL) arrangements where applicable. Delivery, installation and after-sales • Plan delivery and installation schedules for home, retail and commercial projects (gyms, hotels, residential towers, corporate facilities). • Coordinate with technicians and installation teams on site readiness, assembly and handover. • Ensure deliveries meet agreed SLAs, and manage spare parts availability to support service and warranty work. • Control transport costs through route planning and fleet or logistics partner management. Systems, KPIs and reporting • Manage supply chain processes on ERP and WMS systems (e.g. Oracle) and ensure data accuracy. • Track and report KPIs: stock accuracy, stock availability, inventory turns, on-time delivery, order lead time and logistics cost. • Prepare monthly supply chain reports and improvement plans for management. • Develop and maintain supply chain SOPs and policies. Team leadership • Lead, train and develop the supply chain, warehouse and logistics team. • Set team targets and KPIs, conduct performance reviews and ensure adherence to company standards and safety procedures. Experience and qualification: • Education: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business or a related field. A professional certification (CIPS, APICS/ASCM CPIM or CSCP) is an advantage. • Experience: Minimum of 8–10 years in supply chain, procurement or logistics, including at least 3–5 years in a managerial role. • Industry: Experience in the fitness and sports equipment industry is required. Experience in related sectors (consumer durables, electronics or furniture) may be considered. • Region: UAE / GCC experience, including imports and customs clearance, is preferred. Skills, knowledge and abilities • Job-specific: Strong knowledge of demand planning, inventory control, international procurement, import logistics and warehouse operations. Understanding of delivery and installation of bulky equipment for retail, commercial and home customers. Working knowledge of ERP / WMS systems (Oracle, SAP or similar). • Analytical: Ability to analyse data, build forecasts and track KPIs. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills. • Leadership: Proven ability to lead and develop a team, and to work across sales, finance and technical departments. • Communication: Strong negotiation and communication skills in English. Arabic is an advantage. Financials and decision-making authority • Financial scope: Manages the supply chain operating budget (freight, warehousing and logistics costs) within approved limits. • Reporting staff: Operations & Supply Chain Supervisor, warehouse and logistics team. • Decision-making authority: Approves purchase orders, stock transfers and logistics arrangements within the company's delegation of authority.