Warehouse & Material Flow Manager - Northern Suburbs, Cape Town

Guardian Recruiting; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the automotive manufacturing sector is seeking a Warehouse & Material Flow Manager to oversee material flows and warehouse operations. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in materials management and lean manufacturing, ensuring operational excellence and inventory accuracy. This role involves collaboration across departments and leading teams to support production continuity and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in materials management, warehousing, or logistics.
• Deep knowledge of inventory management and warehouse layout.
• Experience in lean manufacturing or Six Sigma is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manage all warehouse operations to support just-in-time production.
• Develop and implement comprehensive planning processes.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives in warehouse layout and inventory turns.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical Skills

Communication

Lean Manufacturing

Inventory Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Logistics, Operations Management, Supply Chain

Master’s preferred

Tools

ERP systems like SAP or Oracle

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position Summary: As the Warehouse & Material Flow Manager, you will oversee inbound, internal, and outbound material flows in a high-mix, low-volume automotive manufacturing environment. This includes managing receiving, storage, kitting, line-side delivery, and return processes to ensure uninterrupted production and inventory accuracy. The ideal candidate has proven leadership in OEM or automotive manufacturing, with expertise in lean warehousing, material planning, and cross-functional coordination to support production continuity and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Manage all warehouse operations, including inbound receiving, storage, internal movement, and point-of-use delivery to support just-in-time production.
2. Ensure smooth and accurate kitting, line feeding, material returns, and replenishment across shifts to prevent downtime.
3. Develop and implement a comprehensive planning process covering make-buy decisions, scheduling, capacity, and material planning.
4. Analyze demand, forecasts, and usage trends to execute build-to-order and build-to-forecast strategies.
5. Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and procurement to ensure timely delivery and material availability.
6. Oversee production scheduling by monitoring inventory, WIP, and supplier performance.
7. Lead continuous improvement initiatives in warehouse layout, inventory turns, and material handling complexity.
8. Maintain inventory accuracy through cycle counts, audits, and root cause analysis.
9. Develop sourcing strategies to meet growth, cost, and delivery targets, including make vs. buy analysis.
10. Manage supplier relationships, KPI tracking, and performance reviews.
11. Enforce policies on procurement, inventory control, and ethical sourcing.
12. Participate in CAPA/CAR processes for quality issues related to suppliers or materials.
13. Lead warehouse and material handling teams focusing on safety, efficiency, and a high-performance culture.
14. Support operational readiness for new vehicle launches by managing material readiness and BOM accuracy.
15. Prepare and manage departmental budgets, tracking variances and implementing cost controls.
16. Support lean manufacturing initiatives like Kanban, visual management, and pull systems.
17. Ensure safety compliance and stay updated on industry best practices, automation, and ERP/MRP innovations.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Logistics, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or related field; Master’s preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in materials management, warehousing, or logistics in manufacturing or OEM environments.
• Deep knowledge of inventory management, line-side delivery, warehouse layout, and ERP/MRP systems.
• Proven success in managing supplier relationships and sourcing strategies in complex manufacturing setups.
• Leadership experience across cross-functional teams.
• Experience in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or quality-focused environments is highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical, decision-making, and communication skills.
• OEM or automotive manufacturing experience preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ERP systems like SAP or Oracle.
• Fluent in English, with strong interpersonal skills.