Materials Manager

Position Summary The Materials Manager oversees all activities related to materials planning, procurement, inventory management, and supply chain operations within an aerospace manufacturing or maintenance environment. This role ensures that materials and components are available to support production schedules, quality requirements, regulatory standards, and cost objectives. The Materials Manager partners closely with engineering, production, quality, and supplier teams to optimize material flow and maintain compliance with aerospace industry regulations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the materials management team, including planning, procurement, Outside Process's buyer, inventory control, shipping/receiving, and logistics functions.


• Develop and implement material planning strategies aligned with production demand, lead-time requirements, and maintenance schedules.


• Ensure compliance with aerospace standards, including AS9100, FAA requirements, and ITAR/EAR guidelines.


• Oversee supplier performance, negotiate contracts, resolve supply issues, and drive strategic sourcing initiatives.


• Optimize inventory levels to balance cost efficiency with production continuity and risk mitigation.


• Develop and maintain KPIs related to inventory accuracy, supplier on-time delivery, material availability, and cost reduction.


• Collaborate with engineering, quality, and production teams to manage material specifications, obsolescence, and change control.


• Lead continuous improvement initiatives such as lean materials flow, warehouse optimization, and digital inventory systems.


• Manage ERP/MRP systems to ensure accurate material planning, data integrity, and tracking.


• Prepare budgets, forecasts, and reports for leadership review.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field (Master's preferred).


• 5+ years of experience in materials management, supply chain, or procurement; aerospace or defense industry experience required.


• Knowledge of aerospace regulations, certifications, and quality frameworks (AS9100, ITAR/EAR, FAA).


• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Epicor).


• Demonstrated experience leading teams in a fast-paced manufacturing or MRO environment.


• Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.


• Lean/Continuous Improvement experience preferred (Six Sigma certification a plus).


• Ability to manage complex supply chains, long lead-time components, and critical-path materials.

Core Competencies

• Strategic planning and execution


• Supplier relationship management


• Cross-functional collaboration


• Data-driven decision-making


• Leadership and team development


• Risk management and mitigation


• Process improvement