Inventory, Planning and Supply Chain Leader

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for an experienced Inventory, Planning & Supply Chain Leader to join a well-established manufacturing business based in Ipswich. This is a varied, hands‑on leadership role with responsibility for inventory management, production planning, materials and the external supply chain. You'll work closely with Production, Sales, Finance, R&D and the global service team, while also leading and supporting members of the materials and supply chain team. We're looking for someone with a strong manufacturing background who can combine hands‑on planning and inventory expertise with the ability to lead others, make decisions and drive continuous improvement.

The Role

• You'll take ownership of material scheduling and production planning to ensure customer demand is fulfilled, while maintaining appropriate stock levels and managing materials throughout the product lifecycle.
• You'll lead the scheduling and release of Work Orders for manufactured items and ensure sufficient materials are available for production and service requirements.
• A key part of the position will be driving effective material pull systems, including Min/Max, Kanban and MRP, to ensure target shipment dates and pull-forwards are achieved. You'll guide buyers on tactical execution and lead the wider supply chain team to ensure supplier performance supports business and customer requirements.
• You'll also work closely with Finance on annual and periodic cycle counts, inventory accuracy and material queries, while identifying opportunities to reduce costs and improve stock control.

Inventory, Planning & Supply Chain Leader - Benefits

• Salary up to GBP48,000 DOE
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
• Free on‑site parking
• Healthcare cash plan
• Bonus scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Access to a staff discount website
• Peer-to-peer recognition platform
• Supportive, close‑knit working environment
• Varied position with genuine ownership
• Opportunity to influence processes and improve planning performance
• Stable, well‑established manufacturing business
• Long-term development opportunities

Inventory, Planning & Supply Chain Leader - Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage members of the materials/supply chain team, including buyers
• Schedule, plan, procure and monitor materials to meet production and customer requirements
• Lead the scheduling and release of Work Orders for manufactured items
• Manage inventory levels and ensure sufficient materials are available for production and service
• Utilise ERP systems and LEAN material pull methods including Min/Max, Kanban and MRP
• Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date inventory and master parts data
• Analyse inventory and supply‑chain data to identify opportunities for improvement
• Drive inventory levels against agreed targets
• Develop and maintain effective inventory and material‑control processes
• Work with Finance to resolve material and supply queries and support cycle counts
• Lead the supply chain team to improve supplier performance and ensure customer demand is met
• Work closely with Sales, Warehouse, Manufacturing, R&D and Production Engineering
• Support the NPD process by defining suppliers and procuring materials
• Ensure new parts are correctly created and maintained within the ERP system
• Drive material cost improvements through PPV projects and support VAVE activities
• Work with suppliers to mitigate potential material cost increases
• Identify and implement continuous‑improvement initiatives across inventory, planning and supply chain

Inventory, Planning & Supply Chain Leader - Requirements

• A strong manufacturing background, with planning and scheduling experience
• Previous experience managing or leading others, ideally within materials, planning, purchasing or supply chain
• Strong inventory and materials‑management experience
• Experience using ERP systems such as Syspro, SAP, Oracle, Dynamics, Epicor or Sage
• Knowledge and practical experience of LEAN material/supply‑chain practices, including Min/Max, Kanban and MRP
• A degree‑level qualification or a relevant professional qualification such as CIPS
• Strong Excel skills
• Good understanding of supply‑chain processes
• Strong analytical, planning and problem‑solving abilities
• A proactive approach to continuous improvement
• Confidence making decisions and working with a sense of urgency
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and perform well under pressure
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to the wider team

Inventory, Planning & Supply Chain Leader - Desirable Experience

• Experience procuring direct materials
• Experience working with scientific products
• Knowledge of SQL, database querying and integration with Excel

#J-18808-Ljbffr