Inventory, Planning and Supply Chain Leader

ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. in Ipswich seeks an experienced Inventory, Planning and Supply Chain Leader to drive material scheduling, production planning and external supply chain activities.

The role combines hands-on work with leading a small team and collaborating with production, global service, and R&D functions. You will drive material pull systems, manage cycle counts with finance, and optimize stock holding to meet customer demand.

Qualifications

• Must be from manufacturing background with planning and scheduling experience.
• Knowledge and experience of using ERP systems.
• Must be computer literate with SME level of Excel skills.
• Exhibit & encourage sense of urgency.
• Must be able to make decisions quickly and take risks.
• Must be able proactively to contribute to the team.
• Able to multi-task, working well under pressure.
• Proactive at looking for continuous improvement opportunities.
• Strong analytical, planning and problem-solving skills.
• Able to work independently to agreed targets and processes.

Responsibilities

• Plan and schedule materials to meet customer demand and production needs.
• Lead the scheduling and release of Work Orders for make items, delegating where appropriate.
• Maintain inventory while ensuring material availability for production, service, and lifecycle management; monitor costs and optimize stock levels.
• Drive material pull systems (Min/Max, KanBan, MRP) to meet target dates and guide buyers.
• Lead the supply chain team to ensure supplier performance supports internal processes and customer demand.
• Coordinate with Sales, Warehouse and Manufacturing to flag risks and opportunities.
• Define suppliers and procure material for NPD; work with production engineering to bring new parts into ERP.
• Manage PPV-driven cost improvements and participate in VAVE activities to mitigate cost increases.

Skills

SQL

Lean techniques

Direct materials procurement

Interpersonal skills

Excel (SME)

Education

Degree in STEM or equivalent (e.g., CIPS)

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Job description

Inventory, Planning and Supply Chain Leader

Job Description

We are recruiting for an Inventory, Planning and Supply Chain Leader based in Ipswich.

The role is predominantly focussed on inventory management, production planning and the external supply chain. The role will work closely with the production manager, global service team and R&D. This role will have both a "hands on" requirement as well as managing a small team.

The key responsibilities are:

Material scheduling and production planning to ensure customer demand is fulfilled. Leading the Scheduling and release of Work Orders (WO) for "make" items though you may delegate to departments where appropriate, e.g. production manager. With both of these, inventory management is required to ensure we have enough material for production and service and life cycle management of parts for aging products which includes the monitoring of costs and optimising of stock holding. With that, the role will lead, with finance, annual and periodic cycle counts.

The role will drive the material pull systems (e.g. Min Max, KanBan, MRP) to ensure that target shipment dates and pull forwards are met, guiding material buyers on the tactical execution.

Lead the supply chain team (e.g. buyers) to ensure supplier performance enables our internal processes and requirements to meet customer demand requirements. Additionally, to identify and support continuous improvement initiatives, particularly regarding supply chain and inventory management initiatives. Coordinate activities with Sales, Warehouse, and Manufacturing personnel to keep all departments informed of potential problems and opportunities.

This role will be responsible for defining the suppliers and procuring material for the NPD process as well as working closely with production engineering to ensure new parts are created in ERP.

This role will also have responsibility for material cost improvements through PPV projects and being part of VAVE activities as well as working with the current supply chain to mitigate potential increases.

Additional Information

• Must be from manufacturing background, with planning and scheduling experience.
• Knowledge and experience of using ERP systems.
• Must be computer literate with SME level of Excel skills.
• Exhibit & encourage sense of urgency.
• Must be able to make decisions quickly and take risks.
• Must be able proactively to contribute to the team.
• Able to multi-task, working well under pressure.
• Proactive at looking for continuous improvement opportunities.
• Strong analytical, planning and problem-solving skills.
• Able to work independently to agreed targets and processes.

Ideal Experience & Skillset

• SQL – Knowledge of SQL, database querying and integration with Excel.
• Good understanding of supply chain processes
• Procurement of direct materials
• Knowledge of lean techniques may be advantageous.
• Interpersonal skills, both internal and external

Ideal Qualification

• Degree level in a STEM based subject or equivalent professional qualification (e.g. CIPS).

GDPR

By applying for this role, you give permission for SP to use and store your personal information contained within your CV or any other relevant information you provide to review your application for the specific role applied for. We will process this data for recruitment purposes only, this may include being sent to the US for review and further processing. We will not disclose your information to any third party unless legally required to do so.

We would like to keep this data until our open role is filled. When that period is over, we will archive the information which will be deleted annually.

Location: Ipswich, ENG, GB