Materials and Logistics Manager sought by a world leader in the manufacture of automotive components. The company provides quality products, services and solutions worldwide to customers in over 150 countries.
Due to an internal promotion, they seek a senior materials management professional to join their Sunderland team as the Materials and Logistics Manager.
Your role as Materials and Logistics Manager:
Reporting to the Operations Manager, you will be responsible for a team of Materials Expeditors and a Materials Supervisor operating in a fast:paced, customer:driven JIT environment.
JIT Materials Planning and Control
: Ensure continuous material availability to support JIT production with zero line stoppages
: Manage supplier call:offs, sequenced releases, and short lead:time adjustments driven by customer schedule changes
: Lead expediting activities to mitigate material shortages and supply risk
: Proactively identify potential disruptions and implement effective recovery and contingency plans
: Maintain accuracy of MRP parameters, BOMs, and sequencing data to support JIT performance
: Operate confidently with large and complex data sets (e.g. 1,500 part numbers with multiple data attributes)
Logistics and Warehousing
: Oversee inbound, internal, and line:side logistics within a low:inventory, high:velocity JIT environment
: Ensure efficient goods receipt, storage, picking, kitting, and line feeding
: Maintain high standards of inventory accuracy, FIFO, traceability, and space optimisation
: Minimise premium freight and non:value:added handling
Leadership and Financial Accountability
: Lead, motivate, and develop materials and warehouse teams operating across shifts
: 5 x direct reports: 4 x Expeditors and 1 x Materials Supervisor
: Set clear expectations aligned to KPIs such as OTIF, material availability and line stoppage prevention
: Manage MP and L budgets, inventory investment and freight spend, identifying ongoing cost reduction opportunities
: Ensure full compliance with company policies and procedures
Supplier, Customer and Cross:Functional Interface
: Act as the primary escalation point for suppliers within the JIT supply chain
: Work closely with Production, Quality, Finance and Customer teams to respond rapidly to schedule fluctuations
: Manage model phase:out activity to minimise obsolescence and support robust customer liability recovery
: Provide accurate forecasting and KPI reporting using designated SCM tools
: Support customer audits, launches and internal reviews
Continuous Improvement
: Drive lean logistics initiatives, including kanban systems and line:side optimisation
: Improve inventory turns while protecting production continuity
: Track and improve performance across material availability, inventory accuracy, premium freight and supplier delivery
Your experience as Materials and Logistics Manager:
: Proven leadership experience in Materials, Logistics or Supply Chain within a JIT automotive, manufacturing or engineering enviroment
: Strong knowledge of JIT operations, schedule volatility and risk management
: Experience leading materials expediting and warehouse teams
: Strong ERP/MRP knowledge with a data:driven approach to decision making
: Degree or equivalent experience in Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations or related discipline
: Experience of end to end material and logistics management with focus on inbound freight
: Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
: Strong people leadership capability with a results:focused mindset
: Proficient in Microsoft Office
: Will consider relocators at own expense
Desirable experience:
: Working knowledge of QAD and/or SAP
: Familiarity with IATF 16949
: Professional logistics qualification
Benefits Package:
: Salary from GBP 58,000 depending on experience
: Optional 9 day working fortnight
: Employee well:being program
: Occupational