Stores Team Leader in Fareham

Saab UK is part of Scandinavia’s largest defence company, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation. Saab offers world‑leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security to keep people and society safe. Our UK presence has been growing at pace, meaning we can offer a wide range of opportunities for personal fulfilment and career growth. We currently employ over 600 people across eight sites in the UK, and our specialisations include software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training.

This role is part of our Saab Seaeye Business Unit on Fareham. The Stores Team Leader is responsible for providing effective direction and supervision to all stores and packing team members to ensure that delivery deadlines and master schedules are met. This role is also accountable for ensuring stock accuracy and driving continuous improvement initiatives within the warehouse operation.

• To plan, allocate, organise and prioritise staff, so all stores activities are completed in a timely manner in line with master schedules and sales deadlines.
• To lead and sustain 6S practices within the stores and yard, promoting safety, organisation, cleanliness, and operational efficiency.
• To lead and enforce health and safety standards, including COSHH regulations, ensuring a safe working environment and compliance with all statutory and company requirements.
• To lead the timely and accurate processing of Sales Orders, Stores Requisitions, Work Orders, and Repair Work Orders, ensuring effective supervision of kitting activities, accurate transaction control within MRP, and adherence to customer deadlines.
• To lead and sustain an ABC cycle counting process to drive inventory accuracy, accountability, and effective stock rotation (FIFO), while managing relationships with offsite storage stakeholders.
• To lead and manage line‑side stock locations to ensure material availability, accuracy, and efficient replenishment.
• To monitor fast and slow‑moving stock, optimise bin locations to improve storage efficiency and material flow, report inventory values to finance stakeholders as required, and assist with end‑of‑year stock audits.
• To oversee all shipping activities, ensuring every Sales Order is packed to a high standard and all associated documentation is accurate and compliant.
• To provide FLT/Wave assistance as required, ensuring operators are properly trained, equipment is proactively maintained, and machinery is available for store operations.
• To lead performance management by monitoring KPI’s, achieving targets, and driving continuous improvement in processes and procedures.
• To lead and support the implementation of a lean stores function, contributing ideas to improve efficiency, organisation, and workflow.
• To coach and develop staff through regular 1‑to‑1s, performance reviews, and IPM fostering accountability and continuous improvement.
• To lead and participate in SQCDP meetings, ensuring actions are tracked, issues resolved, and performance improvements are implemented.

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience leading a team in a lean manufacturing environment, with demonstrable knowledge of warehouse operations, materials management, and continuous improvement practices.
• Knowledge of MRP/ERP Stock control and logistics systems and supply chain processes with a strong understanding of Bill of Materials (BOM) accuracy, ensuring parts and materials are correctly aligned with production requirements.
• Computer Literate – Word and Excel.
• Strong understanding of modern warehouse and materials management processes. Stock rotation principles.
• Knowledge of 5S, Lean, and ABC cycle counting principles.
• Basic understanding of FLT/Wave truck operations and safe material handling procedures.
• Aware of health, safety, and environmental regulations in a warehouse setting.
• Experience handling electrostatic‑sensitive (ESD) components and full compliance with health & safety regulations in a manufacturing or warehouse environment.
• Experience in monitoring KPI’s and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrable experience in coaching, developing staff, and managing performance.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent organisational, planning, and problem‑solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong interpersonal abilities to effectively interact with team members and other departments.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in inventory and documentation.
• Comfortable working at heights of up to 4.5mtrs.
• Analytical and problem solving mind‑set with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and operational demands.