Head of Materials and Planning

SEA Ltd; Barnstaple; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense solutions provider is seeking a Head of Materials and Planning. This role involves leading the manufacturing and operations planning team, ensuring efficient ERP system updates, and developing planning processes. Candidates should have a strong background in materials management within a manufacturing environment, proven experience with ERP systems, and solid analytical skills. The position offers hybrid work options in Barnstaple, with a competitive salary up to £75k based on experience.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Private medical health insurance

Cycle to work scheme

All Staff Bonus

Development opportunities including LinkedIn learning

Qualifications

• Proven track record in materials and planning management within a manufacturing or operations environment.
• Hands-on experience updating and optimising ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle.
• Strong background in demand planning across projects, services, and sales orders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and optimisation of the manufacturing and operations planning team.
• Design and implement improved planning processes for manufacturing.
• Oversee material requirements planning to ensure timely availability of resources.

Skills

Materials and planning management

Updating and optimising ERP systems

Demand planning

Analytical skills

Advance Excel or data analysis tools

Tools

Access Supply Chain

SAP

Oracle

Job description

Engineered to Protect, that’s our promise, we protect what matters - our nations, our waters, our land, our cities, our people, our environment, our world.

As Head of Materials and Planning you’ll lead the development and optimisation of the manufacturing and operations planning team and processes. This role will be responsible for ensuring that project, service, and sales order demand are effectively incorporated into a unified planning framework. The successful candidate will have proven experience in updating and managing ERP systems (Access Supply Chain), driving process improvements, and building a robust planning function that supports operational excellence.

The Head of Materials and Planning can be based at any of our three sites, Barnstaple, Beckington, or Bristol. This role allows for flexible working with a minimal expectation of 3 days per week in Barnstaple for the initial period.

The salary for this role is up to £75k, depending on experience.

What you’ll be doing

• Planning & Process Development
  • Design and implement improved planning processes for manufacturing and operations.
  • Develop integrated demand planning models that incorporate project, service, and sales order requirements.
  • Establish KPIs and reporting mechanisms to monitor planning performance and material availability.
• Team Creation and Management
  • Assess the current skills and abilities of the current team.
  • Creating training requirements and plans.
  • Filling gaps by recruitment or upskilling.
• ERP System Management
  • Lead updates, configuration, and optimisation of the ERP system to support planning and materials management.
  • Ensure accurate data input and reporting across projects, services, and sales orders.
• Materials Management
  • Oversee material requirements planning (MRP) to ensure timely availability of resources.
  • Collaborate with procurement and supply chain teams to align material flow with production schedules.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with Projects, Service, Operations, Engineering, and Finance to align planning activities.
  • Act as the central point of contact for planning-related communication across departments.
• Continuous Improvement
  • Identify inefficiencies and implement process improvements to enhance planning accuracy and operational performance.
  • Drive initiatives to improve communication, transparency, and accountability in planning activities.

About our company

At SEA, we develop and deliver advanced solutions to make our world safer, cleaner and more efficient.

We provide state-of-the-art applications for naval ship and fleet protection and undersea surveillance systems. In-service across the globe, our systems deliver a rapid response to threats and system effectiveness and interoperation. Our systems support an ever-growing number of navies across the world, and we continue to bolster our already specialist, on-the-ground knowledge of key overseas markets.

What we offer

At our core, we encourage innovation, flexibility and out-of-the-box thinking to solve problems, so we’re always looking for talented, flexible, and creative people to bring their best to SEA. In return we offer generous rewards, a fantastic work/life balance, and excellent career and training opportunities for everyone who joins.

Work life balance

• Hybrid/flexible working arrangements
• 25 days’ annual leave, plus buy and sell
• Up to 16 days flexi leave accrual
• Half day Fridays
• Reservists in the Armed Forces receive special paid leave

Family & wellbeing

• Private medical health insurance & Employee Assistance Program
• All Staff Bonus
• Group Pension Plan of up to 7% employer contribution
• Cycle to work scheme
• Wellbeing Centre
• Sports & Social activities
• Employee Discounts portal - online and in-store discounts, travel savings
• Life assurance policy
• Publication and recruitment bonus rewards
• Development opportunities, including LinkedIn learning

Facilities & resources

• Electric vehicle charging points at all sites
• Private seated lunch areas
• Onsite bistro (Barnstaple office) and free hot and cold beverages
• Onsite showers and toiletries provision
• Free onsite parking

The skills you need

• Proven track record in materials and planning management within a manufacturing or operations environment.
• Hands-on experience updating and optimising ERP systems (e.g. Access Supply Chain, SAP, Oracle, IFS, or similar).
• Strong background in demand planning across projects, services, and sales orders.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, strong communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems and advanced Excel or data analysis tools.

Join us and be part of something smaller – with 500 people in the UK and Canada – doing something bigger: protecting what matters.

If you’d like to know more, please give Dave from our Talent Acquisition Team a call on 03330 414172 or reach out to us on [e-mail].