Inventory Controller

Location: Fareham (Midpoint 27 Business Park)

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.

With over 75 years of industry expertise, we combine the strength of a market leader with the pace and energy of a commercial, sales-led business. If you enjoy working with data, driving efficiencies, and playing a key role in operational performance, this is an opportunity to make a real impact.

The Role: 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)
  
  

Why Join Macfarlane?

We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you both professionally and personally, including:

• 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
  
  

Your Future with Us

We’re committed to helping our people grow. With structured development pathways, access to industry-recognised training (including CIPS), and genuine opportunities for progression across the wider group, you’ll be supported to develop your career within a business that values continuous improvement and internal mobility.

Next Steps/How To Apply

We are working swiftly to find the best applicants and hope to hold local interviews ASAP. Please click ‘apply’ to submit your up-to-date CV. All applications will be acknowledged. If you haven’t heard from us within two weeks, please assume your application was unsuccessful.

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