Materials Manager (CAF UK Overhaul Facility, Manchester)

What can you expect from CAF?

• Positive Work Environment: You will work in a positive environment, based on mutual respect and team spirit.
• Professional Development: Our projects are often measured in years, sometimes decades, giving you and the organisation a future.
• Learning and Autonomy: We will encourage you to work autonomously, being able to propose and decide 'what' and 'how'.
• Security and Reliability: CAF has been working for over 100 years on a path that stretches into the future, giving you the security you need.
• Cutting-edge technology: You will work with the latest technologies, facing the challenge of devising innovative approaches and solutions every day.

What will be your role in the company?

The role of Materials Manager is to support project operations in delivering materials and services as and when required to overhaul of assets. Reporting directly to the Head of UK Overhaul, the Materials Manager will play a key role in the setup of this brand-new CAF Project in the UK. The Materials Manager will lead the materials planning by liaising with the Engineering and Production teams to establish the demand, also in coordination with the Supply Chain team to ensure the right materials and services are available to meet the overhaul schedules, cost targets, and quality standards.

This role is critical in establishing and optimising a stores operation capable of supporting the overhaul of major components such as bogies, wheelsets, gearboxes, traction motors, couplers, gearboxes, PWPs, HVAC, and others. The Materials Manager will also be responsible for asset management, ensuring components and parts are accurately transferred between assets and that all asset history is correctly recorded in the system.

Your daily duties will include:

• Build and lead the Materials team ensuring everyone gets the necessary training to comply with the standards.
• Ensure the materials and services required for overhaul activities are available in line with operational plans, quantity, quality, and budget.
• Oversee and maintain the ERP system to ensure accurate asset structure, material master data, inventory tracking, and order progress monitoring.
• Liaise with Engineering to develop and maintain BOMs aligned with component specs and overhaul scopes.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain to secure materials and subcontracted services, balancing cost, lead time, and supplier performance. Including Logistics arrangements if needed.
• Analyse data to generate and present material performance KPIs with adequate actions to address the relevant issues. Including supplier performance.
• Ensure stores operations comply with CAF HSQE processes, safety and quality requirements, ISO, and industry standards.
• Liaise with suppliers to coordinate the reparation of assets, components, and equipment, also warranty process for materials and parts.
• Analyse consumption patterns and stock movements to determine optimum holding levels and reorder points for both preventive and corrective tasks.
• Maintain a deep understanding of contractual clauses related to overhaul facility, making informed decisions and taking necessary actions to protect the company's interests.
• Undertake CAF, OEM, client, and any other necessary training needed to perform the activities. Self-taught all CAF applicable systems (GMAO, Visplan, Geminys, etc).
• Lead stock control activities, including audits, reconciliations, and ERP system accuracy.
• Manage and track both calibrated and lifting equipment to ensure equipment is serviceable and complies with current legislation.
• Control the stock of facility consumables such as COSHH, PPE and tooling maintaining orders against consumption.

What salary will you be paid in this role?

As a Real Living Wage Employer, we are proud to pay competitively at CAF. For this role you will be offered a salary in the region of £50,000 per annum.  

What will make you successful in this position?

To succeed in this role, you will need:

• Level 3 degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, or relevant business
• CIPS qualification (or working towards) is desirable
• Proven experience in materials, logistics, or supply chain management in an engineering, manufacturing, or rail environment
• Experience working with ERP systems and inventory planning tools
• Familiarity with mechanical/electrical component overhaul processes is desirable
• Understanding of technical drawings to identify Part Numbers is desirable
• Previous usage knowledge of Excel, Access and/or Power BI is desirable