Parts Manager

First Military Recruitment Ltd; Oldham; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

First Military Recruitment are seeking a Parts Manager in Oldham to lead the Parts Department, ensuring stock availability for Workshop and Field Service Engineers. You will oversee purchasing, supplier relations and stock control, while driving cost efficiencies and department profitability.

The role requires a highly organised, commercially aware professional who can collaborate with Service and Engineering teams to source parts efficiently and maintain optimal stock levels.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a Parts Management, Parts Supervisor or Senior Parts role.
• Experience in engineering/automotive/service environment.
• Strong stock control and purchasing knowledge.
• Experience supporting field engineers/workshop operations is desirable.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Commercial awareness with cost control understanding.
• Strong supplier management and negotiation skills.
• Proficient with IT systems including stock management software.

Responsibilities

• Take day-to-day responsibility for running the Parts Department.
• Manage supply of parts to Workshop and Field Service Engineers; identify and fulfill requirements.
• Collaborate with Service Manager and engineers to understand upcoming needs.
• Maintain stock levels and avoid excess stock.
• Oversee ordering, purchasing and allocation from requirement to delivery.
• Develop relationships with suppliers and manufacturers.
• Source parts balancing availability, lead times, quality and cost.
• Negotiate pricing and terms to support cost control and profitability.
• Monitor engineer van stock and ensure availability of parts and consumables.
• Conduct stock checks and investigate discrepancies.
• Record parts in the relevant systems and ensure accuracy.
• Liaise with suppliers about shortages, errors, or quality issues.
• Handle warranty, returns and credits following procedures.
• Identify improvements to purchasing processes and stock availability.
• Monitor margins and overall departmental costs.

Skills

Parts management

Stock control

Purchasing

Supplier negotiation

Inventory management

IT systems

Driving licence

Tools

Protean software

Job description

AR909 - Parts Manager

Location: Oldham

Salary: £37,000 - £40,000

Overview

First Military Recruitment are currently seeking a Parts Manager on behalf of one of our clients.

The successful candidate will take responsibility for the effective management of the Parts Department, supporting both the Workshop and Field Service Engineers to ensure they have the correct parts available when required. The role will oversee stock control, purchasing, supplier relationships, engineer stock, parts allocation and the day-to-day management of the parts operation.

This is a hands-on and varied position requiring someone who is highly organised, commercially aware and able to work closely with the wider Service and Engineering teams to ensure parts are sourced and supplied efficiently, whilst maintaining appropriate stock levels and controlling costs.

Our client strongly encourages applications from ex-military personnel, but all candidates will be considered.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for the day-to-day running and efficient management of the Parts Department.
• Manage the supply of parts to both Workshop and Field Service Engineers, ensuring requirements are identified and fulfilled promptly.
• Work closely with the Service Manager, Workshop Engineers and Field Service Engineers to understand upcoming and immediate parts requirements.
• Manage stock levels, ensuring commonly required parts are readily available while avoiding unnecessary excess stock.
• Oversee parts ordering, purchasing and allocation from initial requirement through to delivery.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with parts suppliers and manufacturers.
• Source parts efficiently, balancing availability, quality, lead times and cost.
• Negotiate pricing and supplier terms where appropriate to support cost control and profitability.
• Manage and monitor engineer van stock, ensuring engineers have the appropriate parts and consumables available to complete their work effectively.
• Monitor stock movements, conduct regular stock checks and investigate discrepancies.
• Ensure parts are correctly booked in, stored, allocated and recorded within the relevant systems.
• Liaise with suppliers regarding shortages, incorrect deliveries, damaged items, quality issues and order discrepancies.
• Manage warranty, returns and credits, ensuring company procedures are followed and costs are recovered where applicable.
• Identify opportunities to improve parts availability, purchasing processes and overall departmental efficiency.
• Monitor parts expenditure and margins, maintaining an awareness of costs and profitability.
• Support the Service Department in reducing engineer downtime by ensuring parts are available when required.
• Assist with forecasting parts requirements based on workshop activity, field service demand and ongoing maintenance requirements.
• Ensure the Parts Department operates in an organised, professional and efficient manner.
• Provide support and guidance to members of the Parts Team where required.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure all parts-related administration is completed correctly.
• Occasionally travel to supplier sites, customer locations or other company locations, with overnight stays where required.
• Proactively identify issues and provide practical solutions to ensure engineers and the wider Service Team can continue operating effectively.

Skills and Qualifications

• Previous experience within a Parts Management, Parts Supervisor or Senior Parts position.
• Experience working within an engineering, technical, automotive, plant, machinery or similar service environment.
• Strong understanding of stock control, purchasing and inventory management.
• Experience supporting field-based engineers and/or workshop operations is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication skills with a confident, professional and approachable manner.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple requirements simultaneously.
• Commercially aware with an understanding of purchasing, cost control, margins and profitability.
• Strong supplier management and negotiation skills.
• Confident using IT systems, including Microsoft Office and stock management software.
• Excellent attention to detail and accurate administrative skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and respond to urgent parts requirements.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a practical approach to finding alternative parts and solutions when required.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with engineers, workshop staff, suppliers, customers and internal departments.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Willingness to travel occasionally, including overnight stays where required.
• Experience with Protean or similar parts/service management software would be advantageous, although full training will be provided.

Location: Oldham

Salary: £37,000 - £40,000