Spares Specialist in Reading

The Spares Specialist is a critical technical role within MBNL, responsible for the day-to-day delivery of spares management across transmission and passive infrastructure. Working closely with partner suppliers, this role ensures the right parts are available, used efficiently, repaired where possible, and replaced smartly when necessary.

This is a role for someone who enjoys being close to the detail - but with real strategic impact on network availability, cost control, and supplier performance.

Why this role matters

Spares may look like inventory yet in reality, they are the difference between fast recovery and prolonged outages. This role directly impacts network resilience, customer experience, and operational cost. You’ll help modernise how the network is supported—using data, supplier partnerships, and smart planning to deliver spares in a way that is risk-aware, cost-efficient, and future-ready. This is a hybrid role with a minimum of 2 days per week in our Central Reading office as well as occasional supplier and site visits.

What you’ll be here to do:

• Spares Operations & Planning
  • Deliver spares management processes in line with the wider spares’ strategy.
  • Track supply and demand, raising and managing purchase orders to meet operational needs.
  • Maintain and assure detailed spares plans based on service demand, inventory levels, failure rates, lead times, and asset lifecycle.
  • Ensure optimal stock volumes in the right locations to maximise first-time fix and minimise network impact.
• Supplier Performance & Recovery
  • Monitor and drive performance of transmission and I&M suppliers against stock management obligations.
  • Intervene directly where performance drops—identifying root causes and leading recovery actions.
  • Work with manufacturers to understand lead times, model changes, and future alternatives, including last-time buys.
• Cost, Repair & Obsolescence Control
  • Reduce cost and waste through consolidation, repair loops, and obsolescence prevention.
  • Drive repair supplier performance—maximising recovery rates, reducing turnaround times, and lowering cost per repair.
  • Review and approve spares disposal and manage beyond economic repair and end-of-life processes.
  • Feed expenditure insight into financial forecasts and budget planning.
• Insight, Improvement & Innovation
  • Use incident, root cause, and problem data to identify opportunities to reduce spares demand.
  • Work with SMEs to address design faults, installation issues, or maintenance improvements.
  • Support the introduction of new products or proactive replacement programmes where no like-for-like exists.
  • Design and embed change initiatives that improve performance and engagement.
• Governance, Safety & Collaboration
  • Triage spares tickets and manage prioritisation queues for remediation and backorders.
  • Ensure suppliers comply with MBNL Health & Safety standards.
  • Collaborate across directorates and with shareholders to deliver best outcomes.
  • Challenge the status quo—bringing external insight and continuously improving how spares are managed.

Who we’re looking for:

You’re a technically strong, commercially aware spares or inventory specialist who understands that availability, cost, and quality are deeply connected. You’ll have:

• Strong experience delivering spares or inventory management in complex environments.
• Deep knowledge of best-in-class operational processes.
• Proven experience managing and improving supplier performance.
• Strong analytical and forecasting skills.
• Ability to build deep, effective relationships and influence stakeholders.
• Experience briefing and working with leaders across organisations.
• Ability to balance customer needs, commercial realities, and technical constraints.
• Experience embedding industry best practice and driving continuous improvement.

If you also have the following, we’re especially interested in talking to you:

• Experience managing remote, cross-functional teams or suppliers.
• Strong safety, quality, and compliance knowledge of transmission or passive infrastructure.
• Experience in a joint venture environment.

If you enjoy solving practical problems with strategic consequences, and want to drive real operational impact at scale, this role offers both challenge and influence.