Inventory Process Lead

John Crane, a business of Smiths Group, is a global leader in mission-critical flow control solutions for energy and process industries that enable efficient and sustainable operations. Our products include mechanical seals and systems, couplings, bearings, filtration systems, and predictive digital monitoring technologies.

We have a global network of more than 200 sites in over 50 countries and employ more than 6,000 people worldwide. We partner with our customers to help them keep their operations safe, reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and meet the latest environmental standards.

John Crane is part of Smiths Group. For over 170 years, Smiths has been pioneering progress by engineering for a better future. We serve millions of people every year, helping to create a safer, more efficient, productive, and better-connected world across four global markets: energy, security & defence, space & aerospace, and general industrial. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs approximately 16,000 colleagues in over 50 countries.

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for an Inventory Process Lead to join our team in Slough reporting to the Global Inventory Manager. As the Inventory Process Lead, you will design and implement global inventory workflows that enhance transparency, standardisation, and operational consistency across multiple regions and functional teams. You’ll be responsible for developing and maintaining automated dashboards and performance reports that provide end-to-end visibility of inventory KPIs, leveraging tools such as SAP, Power BI, and Excel. Your day-to-day will involve conducting in-depth variance analyses, identifying root causes of discrepancies, and ensuring data integrity through robust reconciliation and master data governance. Collaborating closely with Regional Analysts, Planners, Finance, and Plant teams, you’ll align on metrics, support optimisation projects, and drive continuous improvement initiatives. With a focus on scalability and digitalisation, you’ll play a key role in enhancing reporting efficiency and enabling informed, strategic decision-making across the global inventory function.

This role is based from our headquarters within Slough working Monday to Friday normal office hours.

John Crane is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to crafting an inclusive environment for all employees.

Duties & Responsibilities (not limited to)

• Design and implement global inventory workflows, creating standardised processes, templates, and tools to drive efficiency, transparency, and cross-functional alignment across regions.
• Develop, automate, and manage scalable dashboards and reports to monitor inventory KPIs and trends across multiple ERPs and business units, ensuring global and regional visibility.
• Perform detailed variance analysis, comparing forecasted versus actual inventory, identifying root causes of discrepancies, and highlighting impacts on stock accuracy, service levels, and working capital.
• Lead cross-system data reconciliation (e.g., SAP, Excel, Power BI) to ensure accuracy, consistency, and completeness in inventory records and reporting inputs.
• Prepare and present monthly performance reports with actionable insights and strategic recommendations tailored to both regional and global stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Regional Analysts, Finance, and Plant teams to align on data interpretations, validate root causes, and ensure consistent metric definitions.
• Drive data quality initiatives, leading master data audits, recommending cleansing strategies, and enforcing alignment with global data governance standards.
• Ensure operational continuity by proactively identifying and resolving inventory and data issues, minimising disruptions, and supporting timely decision-making.
• Act as a key process and analytics partner in regional and global inventory initiatives, supporting optimisation programs, S&OP reviews, and cost-efficiency efforts.
• Own end-to-end process development and governance, ensuring all procedures are scalable, documented, and compliant with global business objectives and regulatory standards.
• Champion reporting and digitalisation improvements, identifying automation opportunities and streamlining data flows to enhance reporting accuracy and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a data analyst, supply chain analyst, or similar role (manufacturing or FMCG preferred)
• Proficiency in inventory and planning systems (e.g., ERP/MRP, SAP, QAD)
• Proficient in Power BI, Excel (pivot tables, advanced formulas), and data storytelling techniques
• Experience working in a multi-site or global environment
• Detail-oriented with high standards for data integrity and accuracy
• Understanding of material master data, BOMs, and the impact of data quality on operations

• Additional Information

  With colleagues stretching across the globe, we are proud of our diversity. To foster inclusivity, we run employee resource groups (ERGs) to provide a safe space for employees to connect and support each other. Our cross-business ERGs include Veterans, Pride Network, Black Employee Network, Women@Work Network, and Neurodiversity.

  Across our company, we recognize excellence, culminating in the Smiths Excellence Awards, our annual celebration of the most extraordinary activities, people, and projects that best showcase our strengths and help drive our business forward. We announce these on our annual Smiths Day, a global celebration of Smiths around our network.

  We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

  At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers – Smiths Group plc)