Inventory, Planning and Supply Chain Leader

Ipswich Source: WhatJobs

£43,000–£53,000

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