Materials Manager

Freightliner is the UK's largest maritime intermodal logistics operator, transporting containers from all major deep-sea ports to our national network of inland terminals, as well as a leading operator in the UK Heavy Haul rail freight market. Freightliner has operations across Europe offering both Intermodal and Heavy Haul rail freight services seamlessly connecting European countries and the UK.

In the UK, the Freightliner Group operates under a number of legal entities including Freightliner Group Ltd, Freightliner Heavy Haul Ltd, Freightliner Ltd, Pentalver Transport Ltd, and Pentalver Cannock Ltd.

We are looking for the most committed and reliable individuals who possess the knowledge, skills, and experience needed for their roles. In return, we can offer competitive pay, excellent benefits, a competitive pension scheme, and a rewarding career in an award-winning team.

Position Overview

Due to the planned retirement of our current long-serving Materials Manager, Freightliner Heavy Haul is looking for the next dynamic individual to take the material division forward and build on the great work that has already been achieved. The position can be based at any of our three wagon maintenance depots: Ipswich, Southampton – Dock Gate 20, or Manchester. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing our materials team to deliver loco and wagon materials, and wagon wheelsets to all our wagon depots and resident loco teams.

Responsibilities include:

• Be a Safety leader by ensuring you and your team work safely at all times whilst always looking for opportunities to do things safer and more efficiently. Ensure proactive measures are taken, through safety observations and positive engagement.
• Own the Material control process and work with the stores teams to deliver effective planning, implementation, and optimal stock levels to meet the business and production criteria of overhauling, maintaining, and repairing locomotives and wagons.
• Use our AMS system to maintain accurate records to manage the stock and materials held and to carry out audit and stock checks in accordance with company policy.
• Report on our stock management at our monthly team meetings.
• Liaise with internal customers and external suppliers to achieve maximum efficiency for the control of material.
• Develop good relationships with our suppliers, carry out regular contract reviews and work with them to ensure we have optimum stock available.
• Develop and maintain visual management processes in line with lean practices and monitor the utilization of materials on site producing reports to show performance.
• Resolve material shortages, backlogs, and other potential schedule interruptions while identifying and creating strategic solutions to improve material flow at multiple levels.
• Develop and execute our inventory cycle count processes to assure high inventory accuracy and report on any discrepancies whilst working with the sites to prevent re-occurrence.

Requirements:

• Commitment to developing safe working practices.
• In-depth knowledge of supply chain and inventory management systems, with proven experience in this area.
• Ability to drive Continuous Improvement to ensure we achieve our targets and standardize our processes across our depots.
• Experience within the role of Materials Controller / Logistics Controller / Buyer / Materials Management with experience in forecasting and procurement tools, collating and developing business KPIs.
• Good understanding of Material Repair Processes.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels internally & externally.
• Excellent computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft software packages.

This post is subject to standard pre-employment checks including employment references, medical & drug & alcohol screening, and successful DBS background checks.

About Us

Freightliner is an established rail freight provider with businesses in the UK, Continental Europe, and the Middle East. Offering customers a wide range of rail freight solutions to cater for the requirements of a diverse market sector, we provide a safe, reliable, and cost-effective rail freight partnership. At the core of all we do are our employees. Their hard work is fundamental to our success, and we are equally committed to their growth and safety.