We are partnering with a privately owned, heritage manufacturing business, recognised as a market leader within its sector. Operating from a state-of-the-art manufacturing headquarters, the business has built a reputation for innovation, quality, and operational excellence.
As part of its ongoing transformation, the business is now seeking to appoint a Interim Head of Materials Planning & Logistics to lead a strategic review and transformation of its Materials Control and Logistics function. This is a high-impact leadership role, accountable for ensuring the end-to-end supply chain is fit for purpose, risk-mitigated, and fully aligned to operational and strategic goals.
Working closely with the senior leadership team, the successful candidate will lead the development and implementation of best-in-class materials planning, inventory management, logistics, and supplier relationship processes. They will also play a key role in supporting the ongoing rollout ensuring the ERP system drives real-time visibility, control, and efficiency across the supply chain.
Key Responsibilities:
* Lead a strategic review and transformation of the Materials Control function, embedding processes that support cost efficiency, operational performance, and long-term resilience.
* Support the implementation of a new ERP system, ensuring the system delivers robust supply chain planning, materials visibility, and cost control.
* Develop and implement a comprehensive improvement programme across Materials Planning, Logistics, and Inventory Control, embedding ownership, process control, and continuous improvement behaviours within the team.
* Embed robust governance around material receipts, stock accuracy, and inventory reconciliation, driving behavioural change and process compliance.
* Collaborate closely with Production, Engineering, Quality, and Procurement teams to improve material flow, BoM accuracy, and system routings within the ERP.
* Ensure effective material staging, kitting, and availability in line with production schedules.
* Embed inventory assurance processes, ensuring accurate stock data, effective stock rotation, and elimination of obsolete inventory.
* Drive improvements in material quality controls, working with suppliers and internal teams to reduce defects, handling damage, and waste.
* Lead initiatives to improve batch-sizing, order frequency, and supply synchronisation, enhancing operational efficiency.
* Contribute to S&OP processes, ensuring materials strategies align with short-term production needs and long-term strategic goals.
* Foster a culture of collaborative problem-solving, proactively identifying and resolving supply chain bottlenecks and process weaknesses.
* Champion safety-first behaviours across all logistics and materials handling processes.
* Build performance-driven supplier relationships, ensuring high standards of material quality, service, and delivery performance.
* Provide inspirational leadership to the Supply Chain, Logistics, and Materials teams, driving engagement, accountability, and innovation.
Candidate Profile:
* Degree qualified in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or Engineering (MBA advantageous).
* Significant experience in senior supply chain leadership roles within large-scale, complex manufacturing environments.
* Expertise across Materials Control, Inventory Management, Logistics Operations, and Supplier Performance Management.
* Hands-on experience of ERP systems (Microsoft Dynamics 365 experience is highly desirable).
* Demonstrated ability to optimise supply chain efficiency, drive cost reduction, and embed best practice governance.
* Strong understanding of S&OP processes, demand planning, and capacity management.
* Proven leadership skills, with experience driving engagement, accountability, and performance across large teams.
* Excellent understanding of supplier risk management, ensuring supply chain resilience and risk mitigation.
* Commercially astute, with the ability to balance strategic initiatives with daily operational execution.
* The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker and hands-on leader, capable of delivering both immediate operational improvements and long-term transformational change.
Personal Attributes:
* Strategic thinker with a hands-on, problem-solving approach.
* Passionate about process efficiency and continuous improvement.
* Strong leadership skills, able to engage and inspire teams.
* Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.
* Commercially astute, with a keen focus on cost efficiency and performance improvement.
* Comfortable working in a fast-paced, innovation-led environment.