Materials Controller

SF Recruitment; Mansfield; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Materials Controller/Purchasing Assistant in Mansfield, England. This full-time, permanent position requires expertise in procurement within a manufacturing setting. The successful candidate will identify suppliers, manage purchase orders, and maintain stock levels while ensuring compliance with standards. Strong analytical skills and proficiency in Excel are essential. If you're interested, please submit your updated CV.

Qualifications

• Background in procurement or supply chain roles within a manufacturing setting.
• Experience managing suppliers and building effective, long-term relationships.
• Strong analytical skills with a focus on accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Select appropriate suppliers for product categories.
• Track supplier performance including lead times and quality.
• Create purchase orders and manage material planning.
• Review sales trends and address capacity pressures.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction in Procurement Strategy.
• Maintain stock levels and minimize obsolete materials.
• Support sales and estimating functions as needed.
• Resolve invoice discrepancies to ensure timely payments.
• Provide cost insights for effective cost management.
• Uphold compliant supplier management practices.

Skills

Supplier management

Analytical capability

Attention to detail

Expertise in Microsoft Excel

Job description

Materials Controller/Purchasing Assistant needed in North Nottinghamshire

Full time, permanent role - Office Based

Monday to Thursday 8-5pm, with a slightly earlier Friday finish

Responsibilities

• Identify and select the most appropriate suppliers from the Approved Supplier List for the product categories you oversee, ensuring choices support both cost efficiency and strong delivery performance. Your decisions should balance profitability with the ability to meet customer and production requirements on time.
• Track supplier performance closely, including lead times and quality, and elevate any issues early to keep production running smoothly.
• Create accurate purchase orders, manage material planning, and oversee expediting activities to maintain a consistent flow of materials into production.
• Review sales trends and order patterns to spot upcoming capacity pressures, putting solutions in place before they impact supply.
• Contribute to the wider Procurement Strategy by identifying opportunities for cost reductions or operational improvements, such as bulk purchasing, negotiated discounts, or alternative sourcing routes.
• Maintain stock levels within agreed budgets while actively looking for ways to minimise excess and reduce the risk of obsolete materials.
• Build a thorough understanding of all processes within the purchasing team to ensure flexibility, effective cover, and seamless continuity.
• Support the sales and estimating functions as needed, including sourcing bespoke or specialised products.
• Work closely with production and finance to meet operational needs and ensure smooth communication across departments.
• Investigate and resolve invoice discrepancies by checking orders, delivery information, and pricing, ensuring suppliers are paid accurately and on time.
• Provide cost insights to support estimating and cost management activities.
• Ensure all supplier management practices are compliant with customer requirements and relevant third-party standards.
• Consistently uphold processes that meet, and successfully pass, all applicable customer and third-party audits.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Background in procurement or supply chain roles within a manufacturing setting.
• Demonstrated success in managing suppliers and building effective, long-term supplier relationships.
• Strong analytical capability, with excellent attention to detail and a focus on accuracy from the outset.
• Advanced expertise in Microsoft Excel, with the ability to handle complex data confidently.

If this role is of interest, get in touch today with your updated CV