Raw Materials Director

Advocate Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Group is partnering with a global drinks leader to recruit a Materials Planning Director. You will lead a 17-person team across the UK and South Africa, owning end-to-end Raw Materials planning for EMEA with real P&L impact, driving transformation of SAP MRP and analytics and supporting NPD timelines to sustain an innovation pipeline.

The role demands senior leadership, strategic influence, and the ability to manage complex supply chains at scale within FMCG.

Qualifications

• Proven materials planning leadership experience, ideally within EMEA.
• Deep expertise in SAP, MRP and PO lifecycle processes.
• A track record of leading and developing senior managers, not just planners.
• Strong commercial and analytical instincts, comfortable operating and influencing at a strategic level.
• Someone who can bring structure to complexity without losing pace.
• Resilient, hands on and genuinely energised by solving problems at scale.

Responsibilities

• Owning EMEA Raw Materials planning end to end, driving a 98% casefill target and a step change in On Time In Full performance.
• Partnering with Procurement on Supplier Relationship Management, SLAs and supplier performance across a wide network of raw material suppliers, co-packers and contract fillers.
• Leading the transformation of SAP MRP and Materials Planning analytics, with dotted line oversight of the SAP MM analyst.
• Setting inventory targets and minimising obsolescence through smart, proactive management of ageing stock.
• Representing the team through the Integrated Business Planning cycle and co-leading S&OP governance.
• Coaching, developing and performance managing a team of senior managers and planners, building genuine bench strength.
• Acting as the escalation point for Materials matters across the business.

Skills

Materials Planning Leadership

SAP

MRP

P&L impact

Team Leadership

Analytics

Tools

SAP MM

SAP MRP

Job description

We're partnering with a global leader in the drinks category on a search for a Materials Planning Director.

This is a business with a huge growth trajectory, category-leading brands, and a footprint spanning close to 90 countries across EMEA. If you want a role where the scale, the pace and the impact are all genuinely senior, this is it.

The role

Leading a team of around 17, including three Senior Managers, two Long Term Planners and twelve Raw Material Planners across the UK and South Africa, you'll own all aspects of Raw Materials planning across EMEA. That's ingredients, kits and cans, with real spend and real P&L impact.

You'll be the driving force behind a transformation of Materials Planning systems and process, working hand in hand with SAP and analytics to lift execution standards across the function. You'll also sit at the centre of New Product Development, ensuring long lead time ingredients and can supply are planned proactively so nothing holds up the innovation pipeline.

What you'll be doing

• Owning EMEA Raw Materials planning end to end, driving a 98% casefill target and a step change in On Time In Full performance
• Partnering with Procurement on Supplier Relationship Management, SLAs and supplier performance across a wide network of raw material suppliers, co-packers and contract fillers
• Leading the transformation of SAP MRP and Materials Planning analytics, with dotted line oversight of the SAP MM analyst
• Setting inventory targets and minimising obsolescence through smart, proactive management of ageing stock
• Representing the team through the Integrated Business Planning cycle and co-leading S&OP governance
• Coaching, developing and performance managing a team of senior managers and planners, building genuine bench strength
• Acting as the escalation point for Materials matters across the business

What we're looking for

• Proven materials planning leadership experience, ideally within EMEA
• Deep expertise in SAP, MRP and PO lifecycle processes
• A track record of leading and developing senior managers, not just planners
• Strong commercial and analytical instincts, comfortable operating and influencing at a strategic level
• Someone who can bring structure to complexity without losing pace
• Resilient, hands on and genuinely energised by solving problems at scale

This is a rare opportunity to lead materials planning for one of the fastest growing categories in FMCG, with real license to shape the function's future. Given the seniority and confidentiality of this search, full details on the business will be shared with shortlisted candidates.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.