Production Inventory And Materials Controller

At Walter & Wild, we’re proud to be one of New Zealand’s leading food manufacturers, with a portfolio that includes some of the country’s most iconic brands: Hubbards, Vitasport, Vitafresh, Aunt Betty’s, I Love Food Co., Greggs, Alfa One, Movenpick (NZ & AU), Killinchy Gold, NZ Natural, Zilch, and Chateau.

We're seeking a capable and proactive Production Inventory and Materials Controller to join our team at Mahunga Drive, Mangere Bridge. This is a permanent full-time position, working Monday to Friday.

Reporting directly to the Production Manager, this role plays a key part in keeping our production inventory systems accurate, compliant, and ready to meet demand. If you’re someone who thrives on clean data, smooth processes, and cross-functional collaboration, this could be a great fit.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the management of production inventory to ensure accuracy, compliance, and cost-effective control across all production areas.
• Managing and maintaining production inventory records in AX (or similar ERP) with precision and accountability.
• Coordinating the movement of raw materials, packaging, and finished goods between production and warehouse.
• Leading daily and periodic production stock reconciliations, including preparing journals reconciliation and resolving discrepancies.
• Supporting timely material and labour consumption reporting for production runs (PPRs), with a focus on variance analysis and action.
• Preparing materials in advance of production to avoid delays or disruptions.
• Daily reporting, maintaining and analysing KPIs and efficiencies using Power BI, Excel, and other tools to support production performance monitoring.
• Driving continuous improvement across inventory processes using root cause analysis and lean methodologies.
• Playing a lead role in stocktakes and cycle counts for production, keeping our data clean and our stock levels accurate.

What we’re looking for:

• Minimum 3 years’ experience working with ERP systems like AX, D365, SAP, or equivalent platforms.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience with excel/access-based systems for materials and resource management
• Strong understanding of inventory control principles and stock management
• Highly analytical, systems-savvy, and comfortable working across multiple data platforms.
• Excellent communication skills—you’ll be working with teams from Production, Planning, Warehouse, QA, Finance, and more.
• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail, especially when under pressure or juggling multiple priorities.
• Ability to think ahead, solve problems, and keep things moving when challenges come up.

What we value:

• Integrity, reliability, and a proactive mindset.
• Enthusiasm for making things better—more efficient, more accurate, more aligned.
• A collaborative attitude with a knack for working well with others, especially in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

If you’re looking for a role where you can dig into complex systems, make a real operational impact, and be part of a team that values your contribution—apply now.