Material and Planning Manager

About The Role

Engineered to Protect, that’s our promise, we protect what matters - our nations, our waters, our land, our cities, our people, our environment, our world.

As Materials & Planning Manager you’ll lead the development and optimisation of manufacturing and operations planning team and processes. This role will be responsible for ensuring that project, service, and sales order demand are effectively incorporated into a unified planning framework. The successful candidate will have proven experience in updating and managing ERP systems (Access Supply Chain), driving process improvements, and building a robust planning function that supports operational excellence.

The Materials & Planning Manager can be based at any of our three sites, Barnstaple, Beckington, or Bristol. This role allows for flexible working with a minimal expectation of 3 days per week in Barnstaple for the initial period.

Salary up to £75k
, depending on experience.

• Planning & Process Development
  • Design and implement improved planning processes for manufacturing and operations.
  • Develop integrated demand planning models that incorporate project, service, and sales order requirements.
  • Establish KPIs and reporting mechanisms to monitor planning performance and material availability.
• Team Creation and Management
  • Assess the current skills and abilities of the current team.
  • Creating training requirements and plans.
  • Filling gaps by recruitment or upskilling.
• ERP System Management
  • Lead updates, configuration, and optimisation of the ERP system to support planning and materials management.
  • Ensure accurate data input and reporting across projects, services, and sales orders.
• Materials Management
  • Oversee material requirements planning (MRP) to ensure timely availability of resources.
  • Collaborate with procurement and supply chain teams to align material flow with production schedules.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with Projects, Service, Operations, Engineering, and Finance to align planning activities.
  • Act as the central point of contact for planning-related communication across departments.
• Continuous Improvement
  • Identify inefficiencies and implement process improvements to enhance planning accuracy and operational performance.
  • Drive initiatives to improve communication, transparency, and accountability in planning activities.

At SEA, we develop and deliver advanced solutions to make our world safer, cleaner and more efficient. We provide state‑of‑the‑art applications for naval ship and fleet protection and undersea surveillance systems.

Our core values encourage innovation, flexibility and out‑of‑the‑box thinking. In return, we offer generous rewards, a fantastic work/life balance, and excellent career and training opportunities.

Benefits include:

• Hybrid/flexible working arrangements
• 25 days’ annual leave plus buy‑and‑sell
• Up to 16 days flexi leave accrual
• Half‑day Fridays
• Private medical health insurance and Employee Assistance Program
• Group Pension Plan up to 7% employer contribution
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme
• Wellbeing Centre, sports & social activities, employee discount portal
• Electric vehicle charging points at all sites
• Private seated lunch areas, onsite bistro, free hot and cold beverages
• Onsite showers, toiletries, free parking

• Proven track record in materials and planning management within a manufacturing or operations environment.
• Hands‑on experience updating and optimising ERP systems (e.g. Access Supply Chain, SAP, Oracle, IFS).
• Strong background in demand planning across projects, services and sales orders.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, strong communication and stakeholder managementli>
• Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems and advanced Excel or data analysis tools.

If you’d like to know more, please contact Kelly from our Talent Acquisition Team. Or reach out using our online contact form.