Inventory Controller

Location: Kingston, Milton Keynes

Package: Basic salary up to £28,000 (dependent on experience) plus bonus & flexible benefits package including up to 27 days holiday (plus bank holidays & additional annual leave purchasing scheme)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday

Sector: Packaging Distribution

Optimise stock, drive efficiency, and support business performance.

At Macfarlane Packaging, we’re in the business of protecting what matters – our people, our customers, and the planet. We’re equally committed to protecting and developing careers, offering a stable, forward‑thinking environment where your contribution is recognised and your progression supported.

Inventory Controller

As our Inventory Controller, you’ll take ownership of stock management across our site, ensuring the right products are available at the right time while balancing working capital, space utilisation, and margin. Working closely with procurement, sales, and logistics teams, you’ll use data and insight to forecast demand, manage stock levels, and identify opportunities to improve performance. This is a highly visible, cross‑functional role where accuracy, organisation, and commercial awareness are key.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Manage stock levels across allocated sites, ensuring availability aligns with customer demand and service levels.
• Forecast inventory requirements using data and customer insight to optimise stock holding.
• Monitor and manage aged, excess, and slow‑moving stock to improve margin and reduce waste.
• Raise and manage purchase orders for both standard and non‑standard items.
• Expedite orders and resolve supply or cost issues to maintain continuity and control spend.
• Maintain accurate inventory records, ensuring strong data integrity across systems; manage Goods In schedules and oversee accurate Goods Received Notes (GRNs).
• Support stock holding agreements and ensure purchasing accuracy in line with customer requirements.
• Analyse inventory performance and report on key KPIs, identifying areas for improvement.
• Work closely with sales, procurement, and logistics teams to align stock planning with customer needs.
• Build strong relationships across departments and with suppliers to support effective supply chain performance.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience working in an inventory control, stock management, or supply chain role.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills, with confidence working with data and Excel.
• Excellent attention to detail and a structured, organised approach.
• Ability to prioritise and manage workload in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work cross‑functionally.
• Proactive mindset with the ability to identify issues and implement solutions.
• Comfortable managing a large SKU range across multiple product categories.
• Experience using ERP or stock management systems.

Desirable

• Previous experience in a distribution or logistics environment.
• Understanding of inventory management principles and KPIs.
• CIPS qualification (or working towards).

Benefits

• 25 days holiday (rising to 27 with service) plus bank holidays.
• Additional holiday purchasing scheme.
• Contributory pension scheme.
• Flexible benefits package including healthcare options.
• Employee assistance programme to support wellbeing.
• Ongoing training and career development opportunities.
• Employee discounts across major retail and leisure brands.
• Annual volunteering day.
• Long service awards and recognition schemes.

Equal Opportunities

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds irrespective of your age, gender, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, gender expression, religion, or sexual orientation. Should you require any specific support or adjustments during the recruitment process, please email our recruitment team directly.

No recruitment agencies please.