Group Materials Manager

As Group Materials Manager you have full accountability for the leadership, performance and continuous improvement of materials planning, procurement, inventory control and supply flow across all manufacturing sites. You will own material availability, supplier performance, inventory accuracy and cost efficiency, ensuring uninterrupted production and strong OTIF performance across the group. You will lead a team of operational and materials planners, partner closely with purchasing, manufacturing, engineering and design, and drive a proactive, data‑led materials function that aligns material supply with production demand. This is a hands‑on role requiring strong day‑to‑day control alongside longer‑term strategic improvement. The role is office based with regular travel between manufacturing sites, operating Monday to Friday.

What you will be responsible for:

• End‑to‑end leadership of materials planning, procurement execution and inventory management across multiple manufacturing sites.
• Delivering strong OTIF performance by aligning material availability to production schedules and business demand.
• Leadership, mentoring and development of the operational and materials planning team, ensuring effective use of MRP systems and high data integrity.
• Issuing and managing forecasts for production direct, consumables and Kanban components.
• Minimising material‑related disruption to production lines through proactive planning, risk management and supplier engagement.
• Inventory control and accuracy, balancing availability with working capital and cost targets.
• Supplier performance management, building strong relationships while ensuring adherence to commercial terms and conditions.
• Defining, implementing and tracking KPIs to monitor supplier performance, cost control and materials effectiveness.
• Cross‑functional collaboration with Manufacturing, Engineering, Design and Purchasing to fully understand material requirements and support operational goals.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives within the materials function to improve service levels, efficiency and cost.

What we are looking for:

• Strong operational procurement and materials management experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience leading, influencing and developing both internal teams and external suppliers.
• Demonstrated success working with MRP systems, planning processes and inventory control.
• High level of education, ideally including CIPS or equivalent professional qualification.
• Experience developing and executing sourcing and supply strategies aligned to business needs.
• Commercially focused, with a strong understanding of cost drivers and supplier negotiations.
• A team player who thrives in a fast‑paced, operationally demanding environment.
• Clear, confident communicator with the ability to engage at all levels across the business and supply base.

The behaviours that matter most:

• Accountability and ownership. You own material flow, availability and performance. When issues arise, you act quickly, make evidence‑based decisions and resolve problems at root cause.
• Hands‑on leadership. You set clear expectations, support your team day‑to‑day and invest in developing future materials and planning leaders.
• Calm under pressure. Supply chain disruption happens; you remain structured, prioritise effectively and communicate clearly to protect production.
• Continuous improvement mindset. You challenge existing processes, use data to drive change and deliver sustainable improvements in service, quality and cost.
• Open, honest and collaborative. You upscale risks early, welcome challenge and work cross‑functionally to achieve shared business goals.