Supply Chain Materials Manager

The Opportunity

We are working with an established manufacturing business seeking an experienced and proactive Supply Chain Materials Manager to take ownership of materials management, supply planning and inventory optimisation at its UK manufacturing facility.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on supply chain professional who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and enjoys driving operational improvements, developing teams and implementing lean supply chain principles.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in ensuring material availability, improving supplier replenishment processes, reducing inventory and supporting production efficiency.

A key focus of the position will be developing and implementing a Plan for Every Part (PFEP) strategy, introducing effective Kanban and pull replenishment systems, and driving improvements identified through Value Stream Mapping (VSM).

This role would suit someone with strong materials planning experience, excellent analytical capabilities and a proven track record of delivering measurable improvements across manufacturing supply chains.

Key ResponsibilitiesMaterials Management & Supply Planning

• Take full ownership of materials management and supply planning, ensuring the availability of materials to support production requirements.

• Develop and maintain robust supply plans aligned with manufacturing schedules, supplier lead times and customer demand.

• Proactively identify material shortages, supply risks and potential disruptions, implementing effective recovery plans.

• Collaborate closely with Production Planning, Purchasing and Manufacturing to ensure continuity of supply.

• Maintain accurate ERP/MRP data, planning parameters and supplier schedules to support effective material control.

• Coordinate material availability for new product introductions, engineering changes and product discontinuations.

Inventory Management & Optimisation

• Drive improvements in inventory management, stock accuracy and working capital performance.

• Review and optimise safety stocks, reorder points, minimum order quantities and replenishment parameters.

• Identify opportunities to reduce excess and obsolete stock while maintaining production continuity.

• Implement effective inventory control processes to minimise shortages, unnecessary expediting and overstocking.

• Work closely with Finance and Operations to monitor inventory performance against agreed targets.

Lean Supply Chain & Continuous Improvement

• Lead the development, implementation and ongoing management of Plan for Every Part (PFEP) across the manufacturing operation.

• Translate Value Stream Mapping initiatives into practical improvements in material flow, replenishment and inventory efficiency.

• Evaluate existing materials planning processes and introduce appropriate Kanban, pull replenishment and lean manufacturing principles.

• Identify where traditional MRP planning remains appropriate and where alternative replenishment methods can improve performance.

• Work alongside Manufacturing and Logistics teams to improve material presentation, storage, delivery frequency and point-of-use replenishment.

• Apply root cause analysis and continuous improvement techniques to eliminate recurring shortages and inefficient processes.

Supplier Management & Performance

• Work collaboratively with Purchasing and key suppliers to improve material availability, delivery reliability and replenishment performance.

• Monitor supplier commitments, lead times, overdue deliveries and potential supply chain risks.

• Support improvements in supplier scheduling, delivery frequency and replenishment arrangements.

• Develop effective shortage recovery processes, ensuring clear accountability and timely resolution.

• Build strong working relationships across internal departments and external supply partners.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, motivate and develop a team of Supply Planners, promoting accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

• Establish clear objectives, responsibilities and performance measures across the materials planning function.

• Coach and support team members in materials management, ERP/MRP systems, lean principles and effective problem-solving.

• Drive a proactive, data-led culture focused on material availability, inventory optimisation and operational excellence.

• Provide clear reporting and updates to senior leadership on supply chain performance, challenges and improvement initiatives.

Key Priorities

The successful candidate will initially focus on:

• Reviewing existing materials planning processes and identifying opportunities for improvement.

• Establishing clear performance measures for material availability, inventory levels and supplier delivery performance.

• Developing and prioritising a comprehensive Plan for Every Part (PFEP).

• Strengthening shortage management and recovery processes.

• Reviewing ERP/MRP planning parameters and inventory exposure.

• Identifying opportunities to introduce Kanban and pull replenishment systems.

• Supporting wider lean manufacturing and operational improvement programmes.

Skills & Experience Required

We are looking for an experienced manufacturing supply chain professional who can demonstrate:

• Proven experience in Materials Management, Supply Planning or Supply Chain Management within a manufacturing environment.

• Previous experience leading and developing planning or materials teams.

• Strong knowledge of MRP, ERP systems, inventory management and supplier scheduling.

• Hands-on experience implementing Kanban, pull replenishment and lean supply chain processes.

• Experience developing and implementing Plan for Every Part (PFEP) strategies.

• A successful track record of improving material availability, reducing shortages and optimising inventory.

• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production planning and supplier management.

• Excellent analytical skills, with advanced Excel capabilities and the ability to interpret complex operational data.

• Experience using continuous improvement methodologies and root cause analysis to drive sustainable results.

• Strong communication, stakeholder management and problem-solving skills.

• The confidence to challenge existing processes, influence stakeholders and implement meaningful change.

• A degree or relevant professional qualification in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering or a related discipline would be advantageous. APICS CPIM, CSCP or equivalent qualifications would also be beneficial.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this position will be measured through improvements in:

• Material availability and production continuity.

• Reduction in material-related production stoppages.

• Supplier delivery performance and supply plan adherence.

• Inventory levels, stock coverage and working capital.

• Reduction in excess and obsolete inventory.

• Successful implementation and maintenance of PFEP.

• Kanban and pull replenishment effectiveness.

• Reduced expediting costs and recurring material shortages.

• Overall supply chain efficiency and team performance.

The Ideal Candidate

We are particularly interested in individuals who combine strong technical materials planning expertise with a proactive, hands-on leadership style.

You will be comfortable working closely with manufacturing teams, analysing detailed planning data and challenging existing processes to deliver improvements.

Above all, you will be someone who takes ownership, develops people and enjoys making a tangible impact on supply chain performance.

Interested?

If you are an experienced Supply Chain or Materials Management professional looking for an opportunity to lead improvements, develop a team and influence supply chain performance within an established manufacturing environment, we would be keen to hear from you.