Materials Managers

The Materials Manager is responsible for leading the end-to-end materials planning function to ensure optimal inventory levels, uninterrupted production, and alignment with customer demand. This role drives strategic planning initiatives, improves supply chain performance, and partners cross-functionally with Operations, Procurement, Sales, and Finance to balance service, cost, and working capital.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the materials planning team across multiple sites. 


• Own portions of the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) materials alignment to ensure supply meets demand. 


• Establish and manage inventory strategies, including safety stock, reorder points, and lead time optimization. 


• Drive continuous improvement in material flow, inventory accuracy, and planning processes. 


• Partner with Procurement to ensure supplier performance meets service, cost, and lead-time expectations. 


• Work with Finance to establish plant-level production budgets aligned with demand forecasts, capacity constraints, and cost targets.


• Coordinate with Operations to align production schedules with material availability. 


• Analyze demand variability and implement mitigation strategies to minimize stockouts and excess inventory. 


• Monitor and report key performance indicators (KPIs) such as, service levels, forecast accuracy, and obsolescence. 


• Lead capacity and constraint planning related to materials availability. 


• Ensure ERP/MRP system integrity and drive enhancements to planning tools and processes. 


• Support new product launches, transitions, and discontinuations from a materials perspective. 


• Develop contingency plans to mitigate supply chain disruptions. 


• Lead cross-functional initiatives to reduce spoilage, excess, and obsolete inventory. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business, or related field (MBA preferred). 


• 8–12+ years of experience in materials planning, supply chain, or operations within a manufacturing environment. 


• 3–5+ years of leadership experience managing teams and/or multi-site responsibilities. 


• Strong expertise in MRP/ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards). 


• Proven ability to lead S&OP or integrated business planning processes. 


• Deep understanding of inventory management, demand planning, and supply planning concepts. 


• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven mindset. 


• Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership abilities.