Supply Chain Controller (Fixed Term)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

This fixed term position (maternity cover) will be based in St. Neots, Gates (U.K.) Ltd, a major international company specialising in Fluid Power.

The supply chain controller is the primary function in the facility with ownership of the business systems that ensure the customer requirements are achieved whilst maintaining control of expenditure (in terms of both running costs and working capital)

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain accurate ERP data to support production planning, material control, and customer demand across internal and external supply chains.
• Generate production documents and ensure timely material availability to meet demand while managing working capital in line with company targets.
• Align production load with plant capacity in collaboration with Operations, identifying and addressing resource or service-level risks.
• Plan production to optimize output, ensuring on-time performance (OTP) and service level targets are consistently met.
• Procure purchased items as required, supporting manufacturing needs and maintaining inventory efficiency.
• Identify and escalate risks to customer supply, ensuring proactive communication with Customer Services, Product Control, and Management.
• Maintain planning and purchasing procedures aligned with SMS, QMS, EMS, and EnMS requirements.
• Monitor and analyze supply chain performance data, identifying trends and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to strategic supply chain improvements and provide input to the Plant Leadership Team on material control, working capital, and optimization opportunities.
• Oversee new part number setup with Master Data and ensure hose cutting machine files are kept fully updated.
• Adhere to ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO50001, and corporate HSE standards in all activities, ensuring accurate and timely reporting.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams and engage with suppliers and customers as needed.
• Provide occasional support for purchasing activities.

Keys to Success

• Thorough knowledge of supply chain processes both in terms of existing company practice but also in terms of industry and discipline best practice. Must be prepared to support any shortfall in this knowledge with external training or mentoring.
• Excellent communication skills and an ability to work with peers both inside Gates and external organisations with confidence and clarity.
• Must have exceptional organisation skills and be able to handle multiple problems/tasks against strict deadlines.
• Must be very customer focused.
• Must be adaptable and flexible, demonstrating a willingness to accept change as a challenge and opportunity.
• Good computer skills including Microsoft Excel, Outlook, Internet systems, AS400 & SAP.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• No supervisory responsibilities; accountable for own contribution

Requirements and Preferred Skills

• 0-1 year(s) of experience
• Typically requires a college or university degree or the equivalent work experience that provides exposure to fundamental theories, principles and concepts
• Extensive experience in a manufacturing environment with specific focus on supply chain control activities.
• Relevant experience in scheduling/planning
• Educated to A level or similar/equivalent

TRAVEL: 

• Travel as required due to training, supplier/customer visits or other Gates locations.