What are the responsibilities and job description for the Materials Manager position at Rhino Tool House?
Job Title: Materials Manager
Location: Livonia, MI
Job Type: Full-Time
About Rhino Tool House:
Our mission is to identify and deliver the world's most innovative industrial solutions. We provide superior service, local expertise, and a high degree of responsiveness to empower our customers to be more productive, build a better-quality product, and maintain a safe environment for their workers.
Job Description:
The Materials Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of materials management across the organization, including purchasing, master scheduling, inventory control, supplier management, and logistics coordination. This role ensures that materials, tools, and components are sourced efficiently, stocked appropriately, and delivered on time to support customer projects and internal production. The ideal candidate is a proactive, data-driven professional who can balance cost optimization with service excellence in a fast-paced, technical environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Source and purchase raw materials, components, and services based on MRP demand or project requirements
- Issue and manage purchase orders; confirm pricing, terms, and delivery dates
- Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure performance, cost savings, and continuity of supply
- Monitor supplier performance and address delivery or quality issues
- Negotiate pricing, contracts, and lead times to optimize cost and reliability
- Create and manage production and procurement plans based on demand forecasts, inventory levels, and capacity constraints
- Ability to build out master schedule for multiple complex product categories
- Maintain accurate planning parameters in ERP/MRP systems (e.g., lead times, safety stock, order quantities)
- Collaborate with production, engineering, and quality teams to ensure material availability and workflow alignment
- Monitor and report on material shortages, inventory turnover, and schedule adherence
- Support engineering changes and new product introductions by adjusting plans accordingly
- Lead annual physical inventory and cycle counting processes
- Ensure compliance with company policies and industry standards
- Support continuous improvement initiatives in planning and scheduling processes
- Develop contingency plans for potential disruptions or delays in the supply chain
- Develop and implement materials management strategies to optimize inventory levels, reduce costs, and improve supply chain performance.
- Manage purchasing activities, including supplier selection, negotiation, and performance evaluation.
- Collaborate with engineering, sales, and operations teams to forecast material needs for projects and customer orders.
- Oversee receiving, storage, and distribution of materials across multiple locations.
- Establish and maintain inventory accuracy through cycle counting, demand planning, and ERP system optimization.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives in procurement, logistics, and materials flow.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, safety standards, and quality requirements.
- Prepare and analyze materials management metrics (inventory turns, supplier lead times, cost savings, etc.) for management review.
- Lead, mentor, and develop team members in purchasing, warehouse, and inventory functions.
Qualifications:
- Associates or Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations, or work experience in related field / role
- 3 years of experience in a manufacturing buying/planning role
- Experience in a manufacturing environment is preferred
- 5 years of experience in materials, purchasing, or supply chain operations—preferably in an industrial, manufacturing, or technical distribution environment.
- Strong knowledge of ERP/MRP systems (e.g., Acumatica, NetSuite, SAP, or similar).
- Demonstrated experience in vendor management, cost control, and process improvement.
- Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
- Ability to thrive in a dynamic, collaborative environment with multiple priorities.
Required Skills & Knowledge:
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent organizational and time-management abilities
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills
- Attention to detail and a high level of accuracy
- Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities
Preferred Qualifications (not required):
- Familiarity with lean manufacturing and just-in-time (JIT) principles is a plus
- APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
- Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
Salary : $110,000 - $135,000