Material Control & Supply Planning Manager

Job Title

Material Control & Supply Planning Manager

 #

59313

Date posted

Thursday, July 30, 2026

Country

United Kingdom

Location

Woking

Business area

Logistics

Department

Series, Material Control

Position level

4 - Management / Technical Expert (L-18)

Working time

Full Time

Contract type

Permanent

Working pattern

7:30am - 4:30pm Monday to Friday

Salary

N/A

What to Expect
McLaren Automotive is seeking an experienced and inspirational Material Control & Supply Planning Manager to lead a high-performing team responsible for ensuring the seamless flow of materials across our manufacturing operations. Reporting to the Head of Material Control & Planning, you will play a key leadership role within the Logistics Leadership Team, driving operational excellence across material planning, inventory management and supplier scheduling.

You will ensure the right materials are available at the right time while optimising inventory levels and supporting world-class manufacturing performance. Leading a team of material planners and controllers, you will champion continuous improvement, develop strategic supplier relationships, and build a culture focused on delivering our mission:
Right part. Right place. Right time. Every time.
What You'll Do
Leadership & People Development Lead, inspire and develop the Material Control & Planning team, fostering a high-performance culture that embraces accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Drive effective hybrid working practices, ensuring productivity, engagement and strong team connectivity.

Promote a “One Team” culture by building strong relationships across the wider Logistics function.

Oversee recruitment, onboarding, coaching, performance management and succession planning, ensuring individuals are empowered to make informed decisions and achieve their full potential.

Material Planning & Supply Chain Operations Lead the planning and control of production materials to ensure uninterrupted manufacturing operations.

Manage supplier schedules to optimise material availability while minimising inventory and associated costs.

Ensure parts are available at the Point of Fit (PPoF), supporting build stability and first-time-through manufacturing targets.

Monitor inventory levels, balancing customer demand, operational requirements and cash flow objectives while minimising obsolete and excess stock.

New Model Launch Represent Material Control & Planning within cross-functional New Model Launch activities.

Collaborate closely with Engineering, Manufacturing and Programme teams to ensure material readiness for new vehicle introductions.

Provide regular cross-functional reporting on launch readiness, risks and recovery actions.

Supplier Relationship Management Build and maintain strong strategic relationships with suppliers across short, medium and long-term planning horizons.

Act as the senior escalation point for supplier performance, capacity constraints and delivery issues.

Drive supplier performance improvement through robust KPI management, business reviews and corrective action plans where required.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement Foster a culture of innovation by challenging existing processes and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, resilience and service performance.

Lead improvement initiatives from concept through implementation, ensuring measurable business benefits are delivered.

Utilise operational metrics and KPIs to monitor performance, identify trends and support informed decision-making.

Issue Resolution & Risk Management Lead the resolution of critical supply chain issues including line stops, supplier shortages, freight disruptions, system constraints and scheduling challenges. Conduct structured root cause analysis to identify underlying issues and implement sustainable corrective actions that prevent recurrence. Support commercial discussions relating to supply risk, contracts and recovery planning where required. Business Partnership Develop strong working relationships with key internal stakeholders including Purchasing, Quality, Manufacturing, Legal, Aftersales and McLaren Special Operations…