Material/Inventory Analyst

# Material/Inventory Analyst **Department:** Supply Chain ## About the Role The Material/Inventory Analyst is a critical member of Riverbend Energetics' Supply Chain team, responsible for driving data-informed decisions that optimize material flow and production efficiency. This role demands strong analytical capabilities and proactive problem-solving skills to manage inventory, anticipate material needs, and keep production operations running smoothly. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, regulated manufacturing environment in direct support of U.S. defense program requirements. ## Key Responsibilities - **Data Analytics & Reporting:** Leverage ERP systems, Microsoft Excel, and other analytical tools to mine and interpret production and inventory data, identify trends, forecast material needs, and deliver actionable insights through regular reporting on inventory levels, production status, and key supply chain metrics. - **Material Management:** Develop and execute material plans aligned with production schedules, ensuring the right materials are available at the right time; coordinate closely with procurement to drive timely supplier deliveries while maintaining optimal inventory levels that balance availability against excess stock. - **Inventory Control:** Monitor and manage inventory levels with precision, implementing controls that minimize carrying costs and waste while safeguarding production continuity; maintain accurate inventory records within the ERP system to ensure data integrity across the supply chain. - **Problem Solving & Risk Mitigation:** Proactively identify and resolve supply chain disruptions — including material shortages, delivery delays, and production bottlenecks — while developing contingency plans and driving corrective actions to protect schedule commitments. - **Cross-Functional Collaboration:** Partner with procurement, manufacturing, logistics, and customer service teams to align material and production plans with broader business objectives, ensuring seamless communication across departments. - **Contracts & Programs Support:** Work closely with Contracts and Program Management teams to align material and inventory plans with contract requirements, program schedules, and deliverable commitments; support program reviews by providing accurate material status updates and flagging potential supply chain impacts to program execution. - **Continuous Improvement:** Analyze operational data to identify inefficiencies and implement process improvements that enhance supply chain performance and production throughput. ## Required Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, or a related field - Minimum of 3 years of experience in materials management, inventory control, production planning, or a related supply chain role - Demonstrated proficiency in ERP systems, with advanced Microsoft Excel skills and a strong aptitude for data analysis - Proven ability to translate complex data sets into clear, actionable recommendations - Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments - Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment - Must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident; this position may require the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance - Local candidates preferred; no relocation assistance available ## Preferred Qualifications - Experience with Deltek Costpoint or a comparable defense-industry ERP system - APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) or Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) certification - Prior experience in a defense, aerospace, or regulated manufacturing environment ## What We Offer - Competitive salary and benefits package - The opportunity to contribute to meaningful national defense programs in a specialized, high-impact industry - A collaborative work environment at a growing 150-person company where your contributions are visible and valued

Key Requirements

• Defense/Regulated Manufacturing Acumen: Riverbend operates in a highly regulated environment producing energetic components for U.S. defense programs. Material decisions directly impact program schedules and contract deliverables with little margin for error. A candidate familiar with defense supply chain norms — ITAR, security clearance requirements, government contract structures — will ramp up faster and make fewer costly missteps than someone coming purely from commercial manufacturing.
• Proactive Supply Chain Risk Identification: At a 150-person company producing energetic components, a single material shortage or supplier delay can halt production and jeopardize defense program commitments. There is no large corporate buffer to absorb disruptions. Riverbend needs someone who anticipates problems before they become crises — not someone who responds reactively after the damage is done.
• Advanced Data Analysis and ERP Discipline: This role is explicitly data-driven — the analyst must mine ERP data, forecast material needs, identify trends, and deliver actionable insights to cross-functional stakeholders. At a small defense contractor, there is unlikely to be a large data or IT team to clean or validate data. The candidate must maintain their own data integrity and translate raw numbers into decisions that procurement, manufacturing, and program managers can act on.
• Cross-Functional Influence Without Authority: The analyst must coordinate with procurement, manufacturing, logistics, customer service, contracts, and program management — none of whom report to them. In a 150-person company, relationships and credibility matter enormously because there are no large organizational buffers or formal escalation bureaucracies. The ability to align stakeholders, communicate material status clearly, and drive action without positional authority is essential to keeping production moving.
• Precision and Accountability in a High-Stakes Environment: Riverbend produces energetic components — detonators and CAD/PAD systems — where inaccurate inventory records or miscalculated material plans can have consequences far beyond a typical manufacturer, including safety risks, failed government audits, or contract non-compliance. The analyst must be someone who takes data accuracy personally, maintains meticulous records, and holds themselves accountable for the integrity of the information others rely on.
  
  

About Riverbend Energetics

Riverbend Energetics is a defense and industrial manufacturer based in Alton, IL. We develop and produce energetic materials and specialty munitions for U.S. defense and allied customers. Our mission-critical work demands precision, safety, and a commitment to excellence.