Spares Manager KwaZulu-Natal, south-africa
full-time
Job Description
Leading supplier of top international brand industrial machinery is looking for a Stores Manager to join their team.
The Stores Manager is accountable for the overall performance, efficiency and accuracy of the branch's spare parts and consumables operations. This includes full oversight of all stores activities (receiving, storage, issuing, stock integrity, dispatch and customer interactions within the parts department). The role requires proactive management of inventory, coordination with service teams, effective parts counter operations and leadership in resolving issues related to spare parts. The Stores Manager ensures a well-organized, compliant and high-performing stores environment that supports operational excellence at branch level.
Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership & Supervision: Supervise, coach and develop stores personnel. Assign daily priorities, monitor performance and enforce company SOPs. Maintain a professional, customercentric environment at the parts counter and drive a highperformance culture with strong work ethic, ownership and accountability.
Inventory & Stores Operations Management: Manage all stores processes included but not limited to receiving, inspection, binning, issuing, dispatch and documentation. Maintain stores layout, bin accuracy, labelling and security of inventory. Oversee daily pointofsale interactions at the parts counter, ensuring all processes (signatures, invoices, returns, credits, etc.) are executed accurately and professionally. Ensure all charge sales are correctly signed and customers receive printed or digital invoices. Set up and manage orders for daily shipment, pickup or delivery. Assist the service department with parts requests, returns and technical inquiries. Ensure proper processing of inbound/outbound parts returns, including RTVs, credits and warranty returns.
Customer & Internal Support: Provide a high level of service to both internal and external customers. Notify service department and customers when special-ordered parts arrive. Follow up proactively on all back-ordered parts. Utilise online/offline manuals and diagrams to ensure accurate parts identification. Support technicians and sales teams with parts availability queries, alternative options and ETA updates.
Stock Accuracy, Audits & Systems Integrity: Lead and ensure accuracy of full stock counts, cycle counts, Technicians' van stock counts and customer consignment stock counts. Generate variance analysis reports and implement corrective actions. Maintain system integrity on SAP by ensuring all stock movements are captured correctly and old or invalid sales orders are closed.
Obsolescence & Slow-Moving Stock: Review, monitor and report on obsolete and slow-moving inventory. Work with management to avoid unnecessary ageing stock. Lead initiatives to reduce obsolete inventory through returns, reclassifications or internal consumption planning.
Process Improvement & Tools Development: Identify inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement across the stores, parts counter and ordering workflows. Lead cross-functional improvement initiatives involving stores and service. Collaborate in Development of tools, templates and reports to enhance customer experience, stock visibility and departmental efficiency.
Coordination with Branch & Service Management: Work closely with the Branch and Service Manager to forecast upcoming inventory needs. Align spare parts availability with scheduled installations, repairs or preventative maintenance and stock holding. Ensure stores capacity and stock levels support operational demand patterns.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
Matric (Grade 12) required
Tertiary qualification (e.g., Certificate, Diploma or Degree) in Supply Chain, Logistics, Warehouse Management or related field is advantageous.
Experience 8+ years of experience in stores, inventory management, logistics or supply chain operations.
5+ years of supervisory or teamlead experience within a technical, industrial or partsdriven environment.
Technical or mechanical parts knowledge (industrial, automotive, engineering) beneficial
Skills & Competencies
Strong knowledge of inventory systems (SAP, Syspro, Pastel, or similar)
High proficiency in Excel and Microsoft Office
Ability to interpret diagrams, manuals and part schematics
Excellent customer service orientation
Strong analytical and problemsolving skills
High attention to detail, accuracy and organization
Ability to work additional hours when operationally required
Strong verbal and written communication
Understanding of warehouse/stores operations (receiving, binning, issuing and dispatch)
Knowledge of stock handling best practices, safety standards and physical inventory workflows