Supply Chain Materials Manager

Overview

Morgan Advanced Materials is a business rich in history and innovation. Founded in the UK in 1856, we have grown into a global organisation with 70 sites in 18 countries. Our model to serve our customers where they need us has led to a diversified product range using our unparalleled expertise in ceramic and carbon materials, which we exploit to solve difficult problems for our customers across a diverse range of markets.

We are a purpose driven organisation. Our purpose is to use advanced materials to make the world more sustainable and to improve the quality of life. We deliver on that purpose through the products that we make, and the way that we make them.

The Thermal Ceramics division designs, manufactures and installs a broad range of thermal insulation products that significantly reduce energy consumption and emissions in a variety of high temperature processing applications. Our product offering is extensive and covers application needs from Industrial to Commercial markets.

Key Figures: Revenue £1,100.7m (2024), ~8,000 employees, manufacturing in 20+ countries, and a global customer portfolio. A UK PLC with head office located in Windsor, Berkshire UK. Listed on London Stock Exchange;
Member of the FTSE 250 Index.

Responsibilities

Under the direction from the Senior Supply Chain Leader, the Materials Manager is responsible for leading warehouse operations, inventory control, cycle count programs, and continuous improvement initiatives to ensure inventory accuracy, operational efficiency, and superior customer service. This role oversees receiving, storage, distribution, inventory management, and warehouse personnel while driving process improvements through data analysis, root cause investigation, Lean principles, and best practices.

JOB FUNCTIONS

Inventory Management & Cycle Counts

• Develop and manage a comprehensive cycle count program.
• Analyze cycle count results and inventory discrepancies and implement corrective actions.
• Oversee annual physical inventories and inventory audits.
• Ensure accurate inventory transactions in ERP/WMS systems.
• Monitor inventory accuracy KPIs and inventory variances.

Warehouse Operations

• Lead receiving, storage, picking, packing, shipping, and inventory control activities.
• Maintain compliance with company policies and quality standards.
• Develop warehouse and logistics capacity plans aligned with operational and production requirements.
• Optimize storage utilization, inventory placement, and material flow based on inventory velocity, handling characteristics, and space constraints.
• Assess warehouse labor, transportation, and storage capacity requirements to support business demand.
• Partner with Supply Chain Planning and Operations to identify and mitigate capacity, logistics, and material flow risks.
• Develop contingency plans to address warehouse, labor, and transportation disruptions.

Logistics Management

• Coordinate transportation, carrier performance, and freight activities to ensure timely delivery of products.
• Monitor inbound and outbound logistics operations to optimize service levels and control costs.
• Collaborate with transportation providers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to resolve shipping issues.
• Analyze freight spend, routing, and distribution performance to identify cost savings opportunities.
• Support supply chain planning by ensuring alignment between inventory availability, warehouse capacity, and customer demand.
• Manage transportation providers, carrier relationships, logistics contracts, and service performance.
• Monitor freight spend and identify opportunities for transportation cost reduction and service improvement.
• Coordinate inbound and outbound transportation activities to ensure alignment with operational requirements.
• Evaluate transportation capacity and logistics network constraints that may impact execution performance.
• Develop logistics contingency plans to mitigate supply chain disruptions

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Champion a culture of continuous improvement focused on safety, quality, delivery, and cost reduction.
• Lead root cause analysis investigations related to inventory variances and operational inefficiencies.
• Implem…