Technical Store Lead

Job Purpose

Responsible for the end-to-end management of the technical spare parts warehouse (Technical Store); optimizing inventory levels, controlling procurement and holding costs, and ensuring spare part availability to support timely machine repairs and maintenance.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy & Process Management
• Establish and standardize standard operating procedures (SOPs), KPIs, and workflows for technical warehouse operations (receiving, storage, preservation, and issuing).
• Define layout planning, and standards to ensure fast retrieval and safe storage of technical materials.
• Spare Parts Management (Strategic Level)
• Develop and manage inventory parameters (Min–Max levels, safety stock, reorder points, and part criticality ratings).
• Control stock levels to ensure required spare parts are consistently available when needed by requestors.
• Act as the process owner for the spare parts inventory management program under the operational excellence framework (UMS / TPM).
• Review and approve spare parts purchasing plans.
• Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement
• Track and report inventory KPIs
• Lead and drive continuous improvement initiatives within the technical store.
• Lead root-cause analysis (RCA) for stock-out incidents, inventory variances, or material damage during storage.
• Cross-Functional Coordination
• Collaborate with Procurement to raise purchase requisitions, track purchase orders, and coordinate incoming deliveries, evaluating supplier reliability, delivery lead times, and packaging quality.
• Align material availability with plant priorities and operational schedules.
• Partner with Finance/Accounting to execute routine cycle counts and the annual physical inventory verification, ensuring reconciliation between physical counts and system data.
• Team Management
• Supervise, manage, and develop the spare parts warehouse team
• Assign tasks, manage daily workflows, and conduct performance appraisals.
• Train and upskill team members on technical part identification, inventory control methods, and warehouse safety.
• Compliance & Governance
• Ensure full compliance with EHS standards, chemical storage regulations, fire safety, and warehouse audit requirements.
• Maintain data integrity and transaction discipline across systems
  
  

Qualifications & Requirements

Perform other duties as assigned by the line manager.

Education: College degree or higher in Industrial Management, Supply Chain/Logistics, Mechanical, Electrical, or related technical disciplines.

Experience

• At least 4 years of experience in technical store management, spare parts warehousing, or engineering material control in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong technical background in mechanical and electrical systems, with the capability to verify specifications, diagnose technical compatibility, and oversee quality inspections for incoming spare parts.
  
  

Technical Skills & Knowledge

• Solid understanding of inventory control methodologies (Min–Max, ABC/VED analysis, inventory valuation, and lead-time planning).
• Ability to read and interpret technical catalogs, material specifications, and technical exploded drawings to identify and verify parts.
• Hands-on familiarity with mechanical and electrical components to conduct accurate incoming quality and specification checks.
  
  

Soft Skills

• Leadership, work supervision, and task allocation skills.
• Root-cause problem-solving and inventory data analytical skills.
• Detail-oriented, high integrity, and systematic mindset.
  
  

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their Whole Self to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.