Overview
Materials and Logistics Manager sought by a world leader in the manufacture of automotive components. The company provides quality products, services and solutions worldwide to customers in over 150 countries.
Your Role As Materials And Logistics Manager
Reporting to the Operations Manager, you will be responsible for a team of Materials Expeditors and a Materials Supervisor operating in a fast-paced, customer-driven JIT environment.
JIT Materials Planning and Control
- Ensure continuous material availability to support JIT production with zero line stoppages
- Manage supplier call-offs, sequenced releases, and short lead-time adjustments driven by customer schedule changes
- Lead expediting activities to mitigate material shortages and supply risk
- Proactively identify potential disruptions and implement effective recovery and contingency plans
- Maintain accuracy of MRP parameters, BOMs, and sequencing data to support JIT performance
- Operate confidently with large and complex data sets (e.g. 1,500 part numbers with multiple data attributes)
Logistics and Warehousing
- Oversee inbound, internal, and line-side logistics within a low-inventory, high-velocity JIT environment
- Ensure efficient goods receipt, storage, picking, kitting, and line feeding
- Maintain high standards of inventory accuracy, FIFO, traceability, and space optimisation
- Minimise premium freight and non-value-added handling
Leadership and Financial Accountability
- Lead, motivate, and develop materials and warehouse teams operating across shifts
- 5 x direct reports: 4 x Expeditors and 1 x Materials Supervisor
- Set clear expectations aligned to KPIs such as OTIF, material availability and line stoppage prevention
- Manage MP and L budgets, inventory investment and freight spend, identifying ongoing cost reduction opportunities
- Ensure full compliance with company policies and procedures
Supplier, Customer and Cross-Functional Interface
- Act as the primary escalation point for suppliers within the JIT supply chain
- Work closely with Production, Quality, Finance and Customer teams to respond rapidly to schedule fluctuations
- Manage model phase-out activity to minimise obsolescence and support robust customer liability recovery
- Provide accurate forecasting and KPI reporting using designated SCM tools
- Support customer audits, launches and internal reviews
Continuous Improvement
- Drive lean logistics initiatives, including kanban systems and line-side optimisation
- Improve inventory turns while protecting production continuity
- Track and improve performance across material availability, inventory accuracy, premium freight and supplier delivery
Your Experience As Materials And Logistics Manager
- Proven leadership experience in Materials, Logistics or Supply Chain within a JIT automotive, manufacturing or engineering environment
- Strong knowledge of JIT operations, schedule volatility and risk management
- Experience leading materials expediting and warehouse teams
- Strong ERP/MRP knowledge with a data-driven approach to decision making
- Degree or equivalent experience in Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations or related discipline
- Experience of end to end material and logistics management with focus on inbound freight
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Strong people leadership capability with a results-focused mindset
- Proficient in Microsoft Office
- Will consider relocators at own expense
Desirable Experience
- Working knowledge of QAD and/or SAP
- Familiarity with IATF 16949
- Professional logistics qualification
Benefits Package
- Salary from GBP 58,000 depending on experience
- Optional 9 day working fortnight
- Employee well-being program
- Occupational
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