Materials Planner

Ford & Stanley Talentwise; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading staffing solutions company in the UK is seeking an experienced Materials Planner in Bristol. The role involves ensuring optimum material availability for rail maintenance projects, managing purchases through SAP, and liaising closely with suppliers. Candidates should have at least 2 years of experience in a supply chain or materials role, strong IT skills, and a background in engineering-based purchasing. This is a 6-month contract offering £24.60 per hour.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years experience in a supply chain or materials management role.
• Strong knowledge of purchase order management and BOM maintenance.
• Proven ability to liaise with suppliers and manage performance.
• Excellent IT skills, including MS Office (Excel essential) and SAP experience.
• Familiarity with inventory control techniques.
• Background in engineering-based purchasing or materials management.

Responsibilities

• Raise and process purchase order requisitions.
• Place material orders through SAP and maintain BOM trackers.
• Monitor forward planning needs to ensure orders meet lead times.
• Expedite purchases and manage risk items.
• Complete repair/return schedules and coordinate delivery dates.
• Track stock usage against forecasts and adjust inventory.
• Monitor daily stock order reports.

Skills

Supply chain expertise

Purchase order management

Supplier liaison

IT skills (Excel, SAP)

Inventory control techniques

Strong communication skills

Tools

SAP

MRP/ERP systems

Job description

Materials Planner

Location: Bristol
Contract Rate: GBP24.60 per hour (Inside IR35)
Contract Length: 6 Months

Play a Key Role in Keeping Rail Projects Moving

Are you an experienced materials professional with strong supply chain expertise? This is your chance to join a fast-paced rail project environment where your planning and organisational skills will ensure critical components and materials are available when needed.

The Role

As a Materials Planner, you ll be responsible for ensuring optimum material availability for major rail maintenance projects. Using MRP/ERP systems, you ll plan, track, and manage stock levels, working closely with suppliers and internal teams to keep operations running smoothly.

Key Responsibilities

• Raise and process purchase order requisitions in line with delegated authority and purchasing procedures.
• Place material orders through SAP and maintain accurate BOM trackers daily.
• Monitor forward planning needs and ensure orders meet lead times.
• Expedite purchases and manage risk items, liaising with project engineers to flag potential issues.
• Complete repair/return schedules and coordinate delivery and collection dates with suppliers and stores.
• Track stock usage against forecasts, investigate discrepancies, and adjust inventory promptly.
• Monitor daily stock order reports and place orders as required.
• Resolve invoice queries efficiently and contribute to cost‑saving initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant policies and procedures.

Candidate Requirements

• Minimum 2 years experience in a supply chain or materials management role.
• Strong knowledge of purchase order management and BOM maintenance.
• Proven ability to liaise with suppliers and manage performance.
• Excellent IT skills, including MS Office (Excel essential) and SAP experience.
• Familiarity with inventory control techniques (min/max, stock scheduling).
• Background in engineering-based purchasing or materials management (rail industry knowledge desirable).
• Strong communication skills and ability to work under pressure to meet KPIs.