Materials & Sales Coordinator in Devon, Exeter

The Materials & Sales Controller helps ensure customers receive their orders on time by working closely with suppliers, customers and internal cross-functional teams. The role is responsible for ordering materials from suppliers, minimising shortages and disruptions, and sales order placement and management. This includes creating and updating purchase orders and sales orders, checking delivery schedules, following up with suppliers and customers on deliveries, and keeping information in internal business materials and resource planning system accurate and up to date (currently SAP, with planned transition to SAP Cloud ERP). The Materials & Sales Controller works with suppliers, customers, and internal teams to quickly resolve any issues that could affect material availability or customer deliveries. Reporting to the Senior Manager Supply Chain, the role helps balance customer demand, material supply, and inventory levels. It also supports improvements in supplier performance, identifies and escalates potential supply issues before they become problems, and ensures clear communication between teams so business priorities can be achieved effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage material and inventory requirement activities across the full range of production demand through Day-to-Day supplier liaison and co-ordinated cross functional communications.
• Responsible for all manufacturing product demand against scheduled MRP-driven requirements.
• Analyse, co-ordinate and confirm material availability and either increase, expedite, or delay deliveries in accordance with production needs.
• Manage inventory through an agreed stocking and replenishment strategy.
• Manage schedule / purchase order change requirements to meet operational needs.
• Complete sales order entry tasks accurately and in a timely manner, ensuring customer requirements, pricing, delivery dates and order details are correctly recorded in SAP.
• Liaise with internal and external sales teams to confirm order status, resolve order queries and support clear communication of customer demand into Materials and Production Planning.
• Participate in weekly team toolbox talks and follow up on actions/projects to meet deadlines set.
• Ensure Manager is made aware of any potential supply or customer issues and execute required actions in a timely manner.

Key Accountabilities/Measures of Success

• Maintain the timely availability of materials to support production and customer demand.
• Ensure customer orders are processed accurately and delivered in line with customer requirements.
• Manage inventory levels to balance operational requirements and stock investment.
• Support reliable supplier performance through effective communication and proactive issue resolution.
• Maintain accurate and timely information within SAP for orders, inventory, and purchasing activities.
• Facilitate effective communication between Sales, Operations, Production Planning, and suppliers.
• Identify risks and support continuous improvement initiatives that enhance supply chain performance.

Knowledge & Experience

• Experience working in a supply chain, materials planning, purchasing, customer service, sales administration, or inventory management role.
• Understanding of material planning, inventory control and order management processes.
• Experience working with suppliers and coordinating delivery schedules.
• Experience using MRP systems, preferably SAP/ SAP Cloud ERP, for managing purchasing, inventory, and sales orders.
• Experience supporting cross-functional teams in manufacturing or operational environments.
• Understanding of customer service principles and the importance of on-time delivery performance.
• Knowledge of Material Requirements Planning (MRP) processes.

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to analyse information, identify potential supply or service risks, and take appropriate action.
• Effective communication skills and ability to build positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail and high level of accuracy in maintaining data and records.
• Ability to solve problems proactively and respond effectively to changing business requirements.
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Experienced ERP user.
• Ability to work collaboratively across Sales, Operations, Production Planning, and supplier networks.
• Comfortable working independently while taking ownership of key activities and outcomes.

Qualifications

• Relevant qualification in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Logistics, Operations, or a related discipline, or equivalent workplace experience.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience within a manufacturing, engineering, or production environment.
• Experienced SAP or SAP Cloud ERP user.
• Understanding of inventory management principles and stock control techniques.
• Experience supporting supplier performance or procurement activities.
• Professional qualification or working towards accreditation with CIPS, CILT, APICS, or a similar professional body.
• Experience participating in continuous improvement or process improvement projects.

Behaviours & Competencies

• Plan - Proactively plan and prioritise activities to ensure customer demand, material availability, and business objectives are achieved.
• Learn - Continuously develop knowledge, seek improvement opportunities, and apply learning to enhance individual and team performance.
• Empower - Take ownership of responsibilities, use initiative to solve problems, and support others to make informed decisions.
• Respect - Build positive relationships through open communication, collaboration, and consideration for colleagues, customers, and suppliers.
• Commit - Demonstrate accountability, deliver on commitments, and consistently strive to achieve high standards of performance and service.