Inventory and Materials Manager

The Opportunity

We're looking for a Inventory and Materials Manager who can combine strong attention to detail with an organised and proactive approach to manage data in our Production and Warehouse operations. This is a key role within our Production teamhelping to maintain the smooth flow of materials throughout the business.

You'll need strong experience with an ERP system (Syteline preferred) within a production or manufacturing environment, strong organisational skills and the confidence to work effectively with internal teams, suppliers and delivery partners. It's a role for someone who enjoys working in a hands-on environment, takes pride in maintaining high standards and can balance attention to detail with meeting operational deadlines.

Who We Are

OpenWorks is a rapidly growing business operating globally with a passion for exceptional engineering and building on a legacy of defence innovation in the North East of England.

Our products provide ultra-high performance, real-time detection, tracking, identification and targeting of dynamic aerial threats. They have been deployed internationally to protect high profile military and civilian assets, and contribute towards the defeat of nuisance, misguided and maliciously deployed drones during operations.

We are very proud to have supported a wide range of law enforcement and military operators, protecting many of the most high profile sites and individuals around the world.

The amazing things we do are only possible because of a dedicated and passionate team.

Security Vetting Information

OpenWorks Engineering operates within the defence sector. As part of our recruitment and onboarding processes, we collect information that may be required to support future security vetting and clearance requirements, should these become necessary during employment.

Why You’ll Love Working With Us

Join a high-energy, collaborative team where great ideas thrive, challenges are embraced, and people genuinely love what they do.

Here’s what our benefits have to offer:

Rewarding Success - Competitive pay rate, starting from £55,000 per annum, plus a discretionary annual bonus of up to 25% of salary alongside a structured pay progression framework.

Enhanced Pension – Up to 8% employer-matched contributions to help you plan for the future.

More Time to Recharge – 25 days’ holiday plus public holidays, long-service rewards, and the option to buy up to 5 extra days.

Breakfast & Lunch on Us – Enjoy team breakfasts and freshly prepared lunches every day courtesy of Chef Mark and his team.

Health & Wellbeing – Private healthcare and life assurance for added peace of mind.

Sustainable Travel – Salary sacrifice schemes, including EV car and Cycle to Work options.

Team Socials – Regular events, from quiz nights and football to board games and more.

Learning & Growth – A culture that empowers you to challenge, grow and make an impact, plus a £250 annual learning budget to invest in the development that matters most to you.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead the Production Planning & Stores Departments to ensure that they are appropriately trained, motivated and carry out their responsibilities to the required standard
• Create Inventory reports and analysis regarding the performance of inventory controls and suggest areas of improvement
• In association with the Operations Management Team develop and maintain an operational Inventory model which defines current liabilities and future known capacity requirements.
• The development and reporting of KPI’s to monitor and report performance in line with the operational strategy, and annual budget
• Monitor job management through the system ensuring relevant depts have carried out tasks in a timely manner. Report performance on a weekly / monthly basis
• Maintaining appropriate stock levels whilst minimising excess, obsolete and slow-moving stock
• Ensure that data integrity is maintained and report any issues to the relevant team members
• Ensure materials and components are available to production in line with manufacturing schedules
• Ensure effective stock location and identification systems are maintained
• Manage goods-in, storage, picking, issuing and movement of materials
• Monitor stock levels and identify shortages or potential supply issues
• Work closely with Production, Purchasing, Planning and other manufacturing departments
• Work collaboratively with Purchasing to establish and maintain appropriate reorder points/ minimum safety stock levels, ensuring material availability whilst minimising excess inventory and working capital
• Plan, Lead & Manage annual stocktakes, cycle counts and inventory reconciliation
• Investigate and resolve stock discrepancies
• Ensure materials are stored safely and appropriately
• Maintain high standards of housekeeping and organisation
• Actively follow the Company’s Health and Safety Policy, Procedures and safe systems of work, and be responsible for your own health and welfare, working with colleagues to ensure that the working environment is safe. This includes following instructions and actively participating in training and development to ensure compliance and best practice in this area.

What we’re looking for:

• Previous Material / Inventory Control Manager experience in a high tech, low / medium volume environment
• Extensive experience in developing and maintaining controls with internal processes in conjunction with the ERP system to improve operating efficiencies and inventory accuracy
• Continuous improvement mentality
• Experience of External / internal audits, stock counts /cycle counts
• Line management experience
• Ability to create & execute plans, motivate staff and a strong leader of people, and have budget accountability

Desirable Skills, Experience and Attributes

• NVQ or similar in Inventory Management/Material Handling
• Ability to communicate at all company levels

More about us:

Vision

Help protect the territory and airspace of NATO countries and their allies.

Mission

Be a world-leading provider of autonomous technology for Surveillance applications and Defence

Values

Be a Good Egg: Earn respect, have mutual trust and be honest

Do cool stuff: We develop cool tech with an awesome team, and we get stuff done

Be empowered: We are autonomous, reliable and take personal responsibility

We are one team: Look out for each other and the team

Things go wrong: Fail fast, learn and move on

Have fun: We’re doing amazing things with passionate people

We Get It Done: Focus on what matters and work with energy to bring ideas to life