Materials Manager

The Michigan Milk Producers Association is a dairy farmer owned cooperative and dairy processor. Founded in 1916, the MMPA serves dairy farmers in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Quality milk and dairy products begin on the farm and continue through every step at Superior Dairy. Michigan Milk Producers Association’s family dairy farmers take pride in producing wholesome, nutritious milk with care and integrity. That commitment to quality carries forward as member milk is bottled and processed at Superior Dairy, MMPA’s wholly owned subsidiary in Canton, Ohio. Founded in 1922, Superior Dairy honors its Great Lakes heritage while delivering trusted dairy products to customers in 44 states.

Why you’ll love working here:

• Competitive salary
• Health and wellness benefits with medical coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield, including mental health benefits
• Disability insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement including 401k with employer contributions
• Personal and professional growth opportunities
• Employee appreciation events and recognition awards
• Employee wellness initiatives
• Employee feedback and suggestion forums

Position Overview:

The Materials Manager is responsible for overseeing all material planning, procurement coordination, inventory control, warehouse operations, and production supply functions within a fluid dairy and ice cream manufacturing facility. This role ensures uninterrupted production of fluid milk and ice cream products through effective raw material planning, packaging supply management, cold storage oversight, and finished goods coordination.

The Materials Manager drives inventory accuracy, cost control, regulatory compliance, and service level performance while leading warehouse and materials team members in a fast-paced, food manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• 1. Materials Planning & Production Support
  • Develop and execute material requirement plans based on production schedules.
  • Ensure availability of raw milk, cream, sweeteners, stabilizers, flavors, inclusions, and packaging materials.
  • Coordinate closely with Production, Quality, and Maintenance to prevent downtime.
  • Monitor shelf-life-sensitive ingredients and manage FIFO/FEFO rotation.

• 2. Inventory Management

  • Maintain accurate inventory levels of raw materials, packaging, WIP, and finished goods.
  • Lead cycle count programs and annual physical inventories.
  • Analyze inventory trends, slow-moving and obsolete materials.
  • Optimize safety stock levels to balance service and cost.

• 3. Procurement & Supplier Coordination

  • Partner with corporate procurement and approved vendors.
  • Track supplier performance (OTIF, quality, responsiveness).
  • Support vendor qualification and food safety documentation requirements.
  • Ensure contingency plans for critical materials.

• 4. Warehouse & Cold Storage Operations

  • Oversee receiving, storage, staging, and shipping operations.
  • Ensure proper temperature-controlled storage for dairy and ice cream products.
  • Maintain warehouse organization, sanitation, and GMP compliance.
  • Supervise loading practices to maintain product integrity.

• 5. Regulatory & Food Safety Compliance

  • Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA (if applicable), PMO, and state dairy regulations.
  • Maintain traceability systems for all materials and finished goods.
  • Support audits (internal, customer, regulatory).
  • Enforce GMPs, HACCP, allergen control, and lot tracking procedures.

• 6. Logistics & Distribution Coordination

  • Coordinate outbound shipments to distribution centers and direct customers.
  • Manage transportation scheduling and freight efficiency.
  • Monitor finished goods aging and inventory turnover.

• 7. Cost Control & Continuous Improvement

  • Manage materials budget and inventory carrying costs.
  • Identify waste reduction and process improvement opportunities.
  • Lead root cause analysis for material shortages or inventory discrepancies.
  • Implement Lean / 5S practices within warehouse operations.

• 8. Team Leadership

  • Supervise warehouse supervisors, planners, and materials staff.
  • Provide training in safety, inventory systems, and food safety compliance.
  • Drive accountability and performance metrics.
  • Promote a strong safety culture.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Business, or related field preferred.
• Equivalent experience in dairy or food manufacturing considered.

Experience

• 5 years of experience in materials management, warehouse management, or supply chain within food manufacturing.
• Experience in dairy, fluid milk, ice cream, or perishable food production strongly preferred.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems required.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of inventory control and production planning.
• Knowledge of cold chain management.
• Familiarity with dairy regulatory requirements and food safety standards.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Leadership and team development capability.
• Proficiency in ERP systems and Microsoft Excel.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each responsibility satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the responsibilities.

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive list of responsibilities that are required of the role. Responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

MMPA provides the opportunity for meaningful work that makes a difference in the dairy industry and in our communities. The diverse talents and perspectives of our employees help us to meet the needs of our member farms and the customers we serve.

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States.

MMPA is committed to maintaining a safe, healthy, and productive environment for all employees as one of our top priorities. As part of our commitment to your well-being and workplace safety, all applicants are required to undergo a drug screening and background check as part of the hiring process.

We are not accepting unsolicited candidate introductions, referrals, or résumés from third-party recruiters or staffing agencies for this position.

MMPA is an equal opportunity employer.

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