Materials Planning Manager

The Materials Manager – Planning & Execution is responsible for leading and integrating production planning, materials management, and warehouse operations to ensure stable, efficient production flow.

This role oversees the alignment of demand, material availability, and execution readiness to support production schedules and customer commitments. The Materials Manager drives a proactive operating model focused on material availability, schedule adherence, and inventory performance, while eliminating reactive expediting and production disruption.

This position plays a critical role in enabling consistent plant performance through strong leadership, cross-functional coordination, and disciplined execution of material and planning processes.

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning & Material Alignment

• Lead site material planning and production planning to align demand with plant capacity
• Ensure all production orders are fully planned and materially ready prior to release
• Maintain a stable and executable production schedule aligned with business priorities
• Coordinate closely with manufacturing to support daily execution requirements

Material Flow & Availability

• Lead end-to-end material flow across: 
  • Inbound supply
  • Internal movement
  • Line-side delivery
• Ensure material availability to support production without disruption
• Identify and resolve material shortages proactively
• Maintain a single, prioritized view of material constraints aligned to production needs

Inventory Management

• Maintain optimal inventory levels to support production and customer demand
• Balance inventory availability with working capital objectives
• Monitor and improve inventory accuracy and turnover
• Conduct regular audits and address discrepancies

Warehouse & Material Handling Operations

• Lead warehouse and material handling teams across shifts
• Ensure efficient storage, movement, and delivery of materials
• Establish and maintain standardized material handling processes
• Improve space utilization and flow through lean practices

Performance Management & Reporting

• Monitor and analyze key performance metrics, including:
  • Schedule adherence
  • On-time start performance
  • Material shortages
  • Inventory levels and turns
• Provide regular reporting and insights to leadership
• Identify trends and implement corrective actions

Continuous Improvement

• Lead initiatives to improve:
  • Material flow efficiency
  • Planning accuracy
  • Inventory control
• Apply lean tools and methods, including:
  • Pull systems
  • Kanban
  • Value stream mapping
  • 5S
• Eliminate waste and reduce variability in materials and planning processes

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with:
  • Manufacturing (execution readiness and priorities)
  • Procurement / Supply Chain (supplier performance and replenishment)
  • Engineering / CI (process improvements)
• Ensure alignment between:
  • Demand
  • Material supply
  • Production capability

Daily Operating System Leadership

• Lead daily material and planning reviews to ensure alignment with production
• Maintain visibility to near-term risks (0–12 week horizon)
• Ensure all issues are: 
  • Identified early
  • Assigned clear ownership
  • Tracked to resolution

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop teams across:
  • Planning
  • Materials
  • Warehouse / logistics
• Establish clear expectations, accountability, and performance standards
• Build capability in planning, material control, and execution discipline

Compliance & Safety

• Ensure safe material handling and warehouse operations
• Maintain compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements
• Promote safe work practices across all areas of responsibility

High-Impact Leadership Expectations

• Ownership: Accountable for material readiness and production support
• Proactive Execution: Anticipates and prevents disruptions
• Accountability: Drives clear ownership and follow-through
• Operational Discipline: Maintains structured daily operating rhythm
• Continuous Improvement: Focuses on sustainable process improvement

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply chain, Operations, Business, or related field
• 5 years of experience in materials management, planning, or operations
• Prior leadership experience managing cross-functional or operational teams
• Strong knowledge of:
  • Production planning and scheduling
  • Inventory management systems
  • Warehouse operations
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Effective communication and leadership capabilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean / Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher)
• Experience in manufacturing operations or turnaround environments
• Experience leading integrated planning and materials functions

Success Measures

• Improved on-time start performance
• Increased schedule adherence
• Reduction in material shortages and expediting
• Reduced material-related downtime
• Balanced inventory (availability vs. excess)

Role Impact

This role is central to:

• Stabilizing production flow
• Improving operational predictability
• Enabling consistent delivery performance
• Supporting long-term operational efficiency and growth