Team Leader, Materials & Inventory

Job Purpose

Responsible for planning and controlling materials in an optimum manner to provide the maximum service level to customers at a predetermined level and minimum cost. Drive operational inventory excellence, maintain adequate stock levels in line with business objectives, and continuously develop innovative ways to improve inventory management across the business.

Key Accountabilities

Inventory Management

• Manage and control overall inventory management processes and activities, ensuring systematic and orderly operations, including inventory categorization, classification, stock levels, variety control, and performance metrics.
• Evaluate and recommend assortment and secondary planning activities for each category and location to optimize inventory costs.
• Develop and implement inventory optimization strategies, including vendor-managed inventory and non-committal long-term price agreements.

Inventory Ordering and Control

• Manage inventory ordering activities to ensure the correct materials are ordered on time and at the right cost, with the required approvals and timely delivery.
• Classify inventory using appropriate categories and indicators, including ABC, XYZ, monthly stock movement, and consumption rates.
• Review inventory levels against demand, vendor lead times, and material criticality to establish appropriate reorder levels.
• Assess inventory velocity and determine economic order quantities to support inventory-turn targets while optimizing costs.
• Collaborate with end-user departments and vendors to ensure timely and accurate demand forecasting.
• Supervise technical evaluations following the strategic sourcing process to ensure materials align with the master data catalogue.
• Manage material replenishment and ordering processes.
• Review end-user requests and facilitate transfers between stores when materials are available elsewhere or under a different category.
• Supervise studies of slow-moving and non-moving items.
• Coordinate with other ADNOC Group companies to source available materials directly from other operating companies where appropriate.

Material Engineering

• Manage material catalogue creation and update material categorizations based on UNSPSC, NATO Supply Classification, or an equivalent classification system.
• Identify alternative suppliers and substitute materials for critical, limited-source, and high-value materials and spare parts.
• Manage item master data through product catalogues and physical inspections.
• Ensure stock items are free from duplication and redundancy.
• Supervise project SPIR material reviews, cataloguing, and technical inspections.
• Define material specifications and evaluate alternative sources and substitutes in coordination with end-user and maintenance departments.

Materials and Inventory Performance Management

• Develop the section’s KPIs based on corporate and divisional strategies and evaluate their contribution to strategic objectives.
• Track inventory performance and recommend actions relating to zero or excess stock, discrepancies, slow-moving stock, redundant stock, stock losses, fill rate, returns, inventory turnover, and backorder rates.
• Oversee periodic studies relating to slow-moving, non-moving, and critical materials and propose appropriate stock-reduction action plans.
• Direct materials-management improvement plans covering site operations and the supply base, supported by appropriate metrics and action plans.

Investigation and Audit

• Review and analyse audit reports, provide justification where applicable, and direct corrective and preventive actions in line with management approval.

Training and Communication

• Oversee the training of end users on the CIDS system and material-cataloguing applications.
• Act as the first point of contact for business-process assistance and system navigation to support operational efficiency.

Management and Operational Responsibilities

• Plan and supervise section personnel and resources to achieve departmental objectives efficiently and cost-effectively.
• Develop employees’ knowledge and competencies and support PDPs, succession planning, talent pipelines, and Emiratization targets.
• Support budget preparation, monitor expenditure, and address significant variances.
• Implement approved policies, processes, systems, standards, procedures, and internal controls.
• Monitor individual and section performance against approved KPIs and Balanced Scorecard requirements.
• Review and recommend an effective organizational structure for the section.
• Encourage innovation, change management, and continuous process improvement in line with ISO standards.
• Maintain compliance with HSE policies, applicable legislation, sustainability guidelines, international standards, and ADNOC Codes of Practice.
• Prepare accurate and timely MIS and progress reports for management.

Minimum Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Material Management, or Inventory Management.
• Experience: At least 10 years of experience in the oil and gas industry within inventory and materials management, including three to four years in a managerial role.
• Professional certification: CIPS or an equivalent professional certification.