Spares Manager

Overview

Keep the network moving. Protect availability. Turn inventory into strategic advantage.

The Spares Manager is a pivotal leadership role within MBNL, responsible for ensuring the right parts are in the right place at the right time—so incidents are resolved fast and service availability is protected.

Working across the supplier ecosystem, for transmission spares and the Inspection & Maintenance supplier for passive infrastructure, you’ll own the end-to-end spares strategy: from procurement and logistics to repair, warranty recovery, and end-of-life management.

This role blends operational leadership, commercial acumen, and strategic planning—with real impact on customer experience, cost efficiency, and network resilience.

What you’ll be here to do:

You’ll lead the spares function as a strategic capability, not just a logistics operation. You’ll:

• Set and deliver the spares strategy to meet customer SLAs at the lowest sustainable cost.
• Own the performance of the entire spares ecosystem across procurement, logistics, repair, and suppliers.
• Continuously improve methodologies, systems, controls, and governance to achieve industry-leading performance.

• Proactively manage spares delivery against contractual obligations and industry benchmarks.
• Intervene directly where performance drops—identifying root causes and leading recovery initiatives.
• Build strong, trust-based partnerships with suppliers while holding them firmly to account.
• Define and maintain an optimal stocking policy across central, regional, forward stock locations and vans.
• Balance first-time fix performance with efficient financial investment in spares.
• Use data on utilisation, failure rates, lead times, and asset lifecycle to drive smart inventory decisions.

• Work with Logistics and Commercial teams to manage procurement, readiness, and acceptance.
• Oversee approved repair agents and drive performance against targets.
• Ensure warranty provisions are fully utilised, recovering costs and driving supplier accountability.

• Establish strategies to manage aging and obsolete equipment.
• Initiate last-time buys, proactive replacement programmes, and new product introductions where needed.
• Work with design and remediation teams to protect transmission and infrastructure availability.

• Ensure spares and repair suppliers comply with Health & Safety standards and UK regulations.
• Own the operational and capital spares budgets, tracking spend, forecasting, and optimising investment.
• Collaborate across directorates and with shareholders to deliver best outcomes.

You’re a senior inventory or spares leader who understands that availability, cost, and trust are inseparable. You’ll have:

• Strong experience establishing and leading a spares or inventory management function.
• Deep knowledge of best-in-class service methodologies and operational processes.
• Proven track record managing and improving supplier and contractor performance.
• Strong stakeholder influence skills and experience navigating organisational politics.
• Experience briefing and influencing senior leadership teams.
• Ability to balance customer needs, commercial constraints, and technical realities.
• Experience embedding industry best practice and building high-performance teams.

• Experience managing remote, cross-functional teams.
• Strong safety, quality, and compliance knowledge of transmission or passive infrastructure.
• Experience working in a joint venture environment.

Without effective spares management, networks fail slower, costs rise, and customers feel it first.

This role directly underpins the availability and resilience of the infrastructure that supports millions of end users. You’ll shape how suppliers perform, how money is spent, and how quickly the network recovers from failure.

If you’re motivated by ownership, enjoy leading complex ecosystems, and want to drive real operational impact at scale, this role offers exceptional influence and long-term significance.