Materials Manager

Job Title: Materials Manager

Purpose of the Position:

The Material Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and managing the flow of materials, inventory, and supplies required to support production, operations, and customer delivery requirements. This role ensures that the right materials are available at the right time, in the right quantity, and at the appropriate cost while maintaining inventory accuracy, supplier performance, and operational efficiency.

The Material Manager works closely with Operations, Procurement, Production Planning, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Logistics to support business objectives, reduce material shortages, optimize inventory levels, and improve overall supply chain performance.

Essential job functions:

Material Planning & Inventory Management

• Develop and manage material plans to support production schedules, customer demand, and project requirements.
• Monitor inventory levels to ensure adequate supply while minimizing excess, obsolete, or slow-moving inventory.
• Maintain inventory accuracy through cycle counts, reconciliations, audits, and process controls.
• Analyze material usage, demand trends, lead times, and safety stock requirements.
• Identify and resolve material shortages, constraints, and supply risks before they impact operations.

Purchasing & Supplier Coordination

• Partner with Procurement to ensure timely ordering and delivery of materials, components, and supplies.
• Work with suppliers to monitor delivery schedules, expedite critical materials, and resolve performance issues.
• Support supplier evaluation activities related to delivery, quality, responsiveness, and cost performance.
• Assist in negotiating lead times, minimum order quantities, and stocking agreements as needed.

Production & Operations Support

• Coordinate with Production, Operations, and Planning teams to align material availability with production schedules.
• Communicate material status, shortages, delays, and recovery plans to key stakeholders.
• Support new product introductions, engineering changes, and project launches by ensuring required materials are available.
• Participate in daily or weekly production planning meetings to address material readiness.

Process Improvement & Cost Control

• Identify opportunities to improve material flow, reduce inventory carrying costs, and streamline warehouse processes.
• Implement best practices for material handling, storage, kitting, issuing, and replenishment.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to inventory control, supplier performance, ERP accuracy, and working capital reduction.
• Monitor key performance indicators such as inventory turns, on-time delivery, shortage reports, purchase order accuracy, and inventory variance.

ERP / Systems Management

• Maintain accurate material master data, bills of material, reorder points, lead times, and inventory records in the ERP system.
• Ensure transactions such as receipts, transfers, issues, returns, and adjustments are completed accurately and timely.
• Generate reports to support planning, inventory analysis, supplier performance, and operational decision-making.

Leadership & Team Management

• Supervise, train, and develop material control, inventory, warehouse, or planning personnel as assigned.
• Establish clear expectations, priorities, and accountability for the materials team.
• Promote a culture of safety, accuracy, teamwork, continuous improvement, and customer service.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, safety standards, quality requirements, and regulatory guidelines.

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Material planning and inventory control
• ERP/MRP system knowledge
• Supplier coordination and expediting
• Production and operations support
• Data analysis and reporting
• Problem-solving and root cause analysis
• Cost reduction and working capital management
• Leadership and team development
• Communication and stakeholder management
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to manage competing priorities

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 3 years of experience in materials management, inventory control, supply chain, production planning, procurement, or logistics.
• Prior experience in a manufacturing, industrial, construction, energy, aerospace, automotive, or technical operations environment preferred.
• Strong knowledge of inventory management, material planning, ERP/MRP systems, purchasing processes, and warehouse operations.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data, solve problems, and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication, organizational, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and ERP systems like Business Central.

Physical Demands:

Hours: 8-10 per day Week: 40-50 hrs per week Lunch: 1 hour

Sitting: 50 % of time Standing & Walking: 50 % of time

Environment:

• Office and Plant environment.

Physical tasks:

Stress:

• Medium to High

Performance Standards:

• Ability to perform work according to company guidelines and client's requirements.
• Ability to maintain and control production and personnel programs under Materials purview.
• Ability to prepare and present reports in a timely fashion.