Materials Manager Qualitrol County Antrim, United Kingdom

Position Summary

The Materials Manager is responsible for leading all aspects of materials management, including demand planning, purchasing, supplier management, inventory control, production support, and material flow optimization. This hands‑on leadership role ensures the uninterrupted flow of direct and indirect materials required to support manufacturing operations while driving improvements in safety, quality, delivery, inventory performance, and cost.

The Materials Manager serves as the primary operational leader for planning, purchasing, inventory management, supplier performance, and material availability. This role works cross‑functionally with Operations, Production, Engineering, Quality, Commodity Managers, Sales, Finance, and Supply Chain leadership to ensure material strategies align with business objectives and customer commitments.

• Lead the material planning process to ensure the right materials are available in the right quantities at the right time to support customer demand and manufacturing schedules.
• Manage inventory replenishment activities utilizing MRP and inventory planning systems.
• Coordinate with Sales, Operations, and Production teams to align material availability with forecasted demand and production requirements.
• Identify and mitigate material shortages, supply disruptions, and capacity constraints before they impact customer deliveries.
• Develop and execute material coverage strategies to support business growth, demand volatility, and new product introductions.
• Ensure continuity of supply for both direct and indirect materials.

• Establish and maintain effective inventory management processes that optimize inventory investment while maintaining required service levels.
• Drive inventory turns improvement initiatives and reduce excess, obsolete, and slow‑moving inventory.
• Implement and continually improve inventory control methodologies including:
  • Kanban
  • Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI)
  • Safety Stock Optimization
  • Reorder Point Management
  • Cycle Counting Programs
• Conduct inventory audits and review inventory accuracy metrics.
• Develop action plans to improve inventory accuracy and material visibility throughout the supply chain.

• Establish and maintain strong supplier relationships that support business objectives.
• Monitor supplier performance and drive improvements in:
  • On‑Time Delivery (OTD)
  • Quality
  • Lead Times
  • Responsiveness
  • Cost Competitiveness
• Lead supplier performance reviews utilizing supplier scorecards and performance metrics.
• Escalate supplier issues and coordinate corrective actions as required.
• Partner with Commodity Managers and teams to:
  • Execute sourcing strategies
  • Support supplier selection
  • Evaluate supplier capabilities
  • Improve supplier performance
• Participate in supplier audits, business reviews, and development activities.
• Support low‑cost region sourcing initiatives where appropriate.

• Partner with Commodity Managers to identify and implement opportunities to achieve:
  • Purchase Price Variance (PPV) savings
  • Cost reduction initiatives
  • Productivity improvements
  • Working capital improvements
• Support Commodity Manager in supplier negotiations and contract discussions to secure favorable commercial terms, pricing, service levels, and delivery commitments.
• Partner with Commodity Managers and to support supplier agreements and drive supplier accountability.
• Analyze supplier spend and identify opportunities for consolidation, optimization, and cost reduction in partnership with Commodity Managers.

• Partner closely with Production, Operations, Engineering, and Quality teams to ensure material availability supports manufacturing schedules and customer commitments.
• Lead resolution of material‑related issues impacting:
  • Production
  • Quality
  • Customer Delivery
  • Inventory Performance
• Support production schedule attainment through proactive planning and issue resolution.
• Improve the flow of materials throughout manufacturing operations to increase efficiency and productivity.
• Work with Operations teams to optimize build cycles, material presentation, and…