Materials Manager

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end materials management covering procurement, supplier coordination, inventory control, and material availability to meet operational needs. Partner with planning and operations teams to align material readiness with production schedules and service requirements. Build and execute sourcing and materials strategies that improve continuity of supply, cost effectiveness, and supplier performance. Manage day-to-day purchasing workflows (requisition review, order placement, tracking, supplier follow-ups, and issue resolution). Monitor inventory and implement actions to improve turnover while reducing excess and obsolete stock. Develop, evaluate, and maintain suppliers to meet expectations on quality, delivery, cost, and responsiveness. Run supplier performance reviews and lead improvement / corrective actions for delivery, quality, or service gaps. Negotiate commercial terms (pricing, lead times, and supply arrangements) while managing operational and supply risk. Deliver cost-reduction initiatives such as alternative sourcing, supplier rationalisation, and process improvements. Put contingency plans in place for disruption scenarios and lead recovery actions when issues arise. Support new product introductions by coordinating material planning, supplier readiness, component availability, and procurement timelines. Work cross-functionally with engineering, quality, operations, and finance to deliver business priorities and improvement initiatives. Track external factors and translate insights into practical actions. Ensure processes follow internal governance, ethical sourcing expectations, and applicable compliance requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related discipline. Minimum 5 years of experience in procurement and/or purchasing roles. Proven experience in supplier relationship management and vendor performance improvement. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities independently and deliver outcomes under deadlines. Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, with confidence handling operational data and trends. Strong negotiation skills and commercial judgement to balance cost, risk, and continuity of supply. Experience supporting materials readiness for product introductions or changes is advantageous. Professional certifications in procurement / supply chain (e.g., CPSM, CSCP) are preferred.