Materials Manager

 

Job Description:

We seek a highly organised and detail-oriented Material Manager to oversee our inventory and supply chain operations. The ideal candidate will manage the flow of materials, ensure the availability of necessary supplies, and optimise inventory levels to meet production needs. The Materials Manager will implement best practices in supply chain planning, scheduling, purchasing, and inventory management to maximise company profit. They will be pivotal in driving productivity and optimising Belfast’s site spending for direct and indirect materials. This hands-on leadership role is responsible for coordinating with the commodity manager to source materials and negotiating and implementing supplier agreements. The Materials Manager will manage a team of purchasing professionals.

 

Key responsibilities:

Oversee the material planning process to ensure the on-time supply of material in the right quantity to meet production demand. Establish supplier relationships to ensure timely (OTD) and cost-effective materials supply. Coordinate with the commodity team to negotiate contracts and agreements with suppliers to secure favourable terms and conditions. Monitor supplier performance and address any issues related to quality, delivery, or pricing. Promptly address engineering and quality issues and find solutions to material problems impacting production, quality, and delivery of products within customer-requested lead times.  Proactively identify and implement opportunities to achieve PPV and other cost savings. Led, trained and facilitated improvements to improve inventory turns, eliminate parts shortages, improve workflow, and eliminate waste. Develop and implement best practice inventory control procedures (Kanban, VMI, etc.) to ensure optimal stock levels and conduct regular audits to prevent discrepancies.  Coordinate with sales and commodity teams to forecast demand and manage inventory replenishment. Maintain and enhance plant purchasing and supply chain policies and procedures. Identify opportunities for process improvements and implement changes to enhance efficiency and productivity. Ability to effectively use inventory management principles to optimise stock level while reducing stockouts and overstock situations. Proven experience implementing procurement strategy based on material categorisation into classes and groups. Knowledge in aligning stock management principles with production planning methods and lean manufacturing principles. Stay updated on industry trends, inventory, and supply chain management best practices. Ensure the Materials organisation contributes to our plant's safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets.

 

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field. Proven progressive experience (10+ years) in planning, purchasing, and inventory control within a manufacturing environment preferred. Working knowledge of business process improvement process Strong interpersonal skills Action and results-oriented Knowledge and experience of MRP Systems, Oracle business system  Possesses the ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of personnel and production problems Leadership experience and the ability to manage a team effectively.

 

Essential

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Excellent communication and negotiation abilities. Working knowledge of business process improvement process Strong interpersonal skills Action and results-oriented

Fortive Corporation Overview

Fortive’s essential technology makes the world stronger, safer, and smarter. We accelerate transformation across a broad range of applications including environmental, health and safety compliance, industrial condition monitoring, next-generation product design, and healthcare safety solutions.

We are a global industrial technology innovator with a startup spirit. Our forward-looking companies lead the way in software-powered workflow solutions, data-driven intelligence, AI-powered automation, and other disruptive technologies. We’re a force for progress, working alongside our customers and partners to solve challenges on a global scale, from workplace safety in the most demanding conditions to groundbreaking sustainability solutions.

We are a diverse team 18,000 strong, united by a dynamic, inclusive culture and energized by limitless learning and growth. We use the proven Fortive Business System (FBS) to accelerate our positive impact.

At Fortive, we believe in you. We believe in your potential—your ability to learn, grow, and make a difference.

At Fortive, we believe in us. We believe in the power of people working together to solve problems no one could solve alone.