Warehouse & Material Flow Manager - Northern Suburbs, Cape Town

SUMMARY:
Our client is looking for a Warehouse & Material Flow Manager to form part of their engineering team
This role is based in the Northern Suburbs, Cape Town with the potential opportunity for future relocation to the U.S

POSITION INFO:
Position Summary
As the Warehouse & Material Flow Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing all inbound, internal, and outbound material flow within 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 brings proven leadership in OEM or automotive manufacturing, with strong expertise in lean warehousing, material planning, and cross-functional coordination to support production continuity and operational excellence
Position plays a critical role in supporting operational continuity, inventory accuracy, and production readiness in a custom-engineered, high-mix, low-volume OEM manufacturing facility
The role requires strong leadership, planning, analytical, and systems skills, as well as deep experience in lean warehousing, kitting, and material presentation strategies

Key Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of warehouse operations, inbound receiving, storage, internal movement, and point-of-use delivery to support just-in-time production
• Ensure smooth and accurate kitting, line feeding, material returns, and replenishment processes across production shifts to eliminate downtime and disruptions
• Develop and implement a cross-functional, fully integrated planning process covering make buy decisions, scheduling, capacity, material planning, and cost optimization

• Analyse customer demand, sales forecasts, and usage trends to execute both build-to-order and build-to-forecast material strategies
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and procurement to ensure on-time delivery and optimal material availability
• Oversee production scheduling and planning by monitoring material inventory levels, work-in-progress (WIP), and supplier performance
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to streamline warehouse layout, improve inventory turns, and reduce material handling complexity
• Own and maintain inventory accuracy through cycle counting, auditing, root cause analysis, and corrective action systems in collaboration with Finance
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies to meet growth, cost, and delivery goals, including make vs. buy analysis and risk mitigation
• Manage supplier relationships, including scorecard development, KPI tracking, and regular performance reviews
• Enforce company policies related to procurement, inventory control, supplier compliance, and ethical sourcing
• Participate in CAPA/CAR processes to resolve supplier or material-related quality issues
• Lead warehouse and material handling teams to ensure safety, efficiency, and high-performance culture
• Contribute to operational readiness for new vehicle model launches by managing material readiness and BOM accuracy
• Prepare and manage departmental budgets, track variances, and implement corrective cost control measures
• Support site-wide lean manufacturing initiatives, including Kanban, supermarket strategies, visual management, and pull systems
• Ensure compliance with safety regulations and company policies in warehouse and material movement areas
• Stay current with industry best practices, material handling automation, and ERP/MRP innovations to improve processes and performance

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Logistics, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or a related field. A master’s degree is an advantage
• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in materials management, warehousing, or logistics in a manufacturing or OEM production environment
• Deep understanding of inventory management, line-side material delivery systems, warehouse layout optimization, and ERP/MRP functionality
• Demonstrated success managing supplier relationships and sourcing strategies within a complex build-to-order or custom manufacturing setup
• Proven leadership of cross-functional teams, including warehouse, logistics, sourcing, and material planning functions
• Experience in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or total quality environments is highly desirable
• Excellent analytical and decision-making skills
• OEM or automotive manufacturing experience is highly preferred and should reflect familiarity with quality, delivery, and customization demands
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Excel) and ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or equivalent)
• Fluent in English, with exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, capable of engaging confidently across technical and executive audiences

• In-depth understanding of warehouse systems, logistics planning, and inbound/outbound material flow strategies
• Experience in supplier score-carding, inventory accuracy programs, and materials budgeting
• Strong knowledge of BOM structures, routings, material master data, and change control
• Fluency in KPIs such as inventory turns, delivery accuracy, dock-to-stock time, and fill rates

• Proactive, self-directed, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, high-ambiguity environment
• Hands-on leadership style with a collaborative, team-building approach
• High level of EQ, integrity, and ownership of results
• Strong interpersonal and cross-functional coordination skills
• Demonstrated passion for lean material systems and driving operational excellence through innovation and process discipline