Materials Manager

Job Title: Materials Manager

Location: Chattanooga, TN

Job Type: Fulltime

Job Summary

The Materials Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing inventory and materials management at a primary manufacturing site. This role ensures uninterrupted material flow to support the master production schedule while driving operational excellence across procurement, inventory, warehousing, and distribution. The position plays a key role in aftermarket order fulfillment, cost optimization, and execution of the organization’s supply chain strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Supply Chain & Inventory Management

• Execute the organization’s supply chain vision, policies, and multi-year strategic roadmap.
• Ensure optimal inventory levels and turns while minimizing stockouts.
• Maintain best-in-class inventory control processes, including a cycle count program with >99% net inventory accuracy.
• Oversee material planning, ordering, expediting, storage, transportation, and delivery of raw materials, purchased parts, and internally fabricated items.
• Achieve ≥95% Fill Rate and ≥99% On-Time Delivery for aftermarket orders.

Operational Excellence & Process Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste, improve quality, and increase efficiency.
• Recommend and implement improvements to materials movement and inventory processes.
• Implement best-in-class materials management systems and practices.
• Track, analyze, and report key performance metrics.
• Proactively identify shortages, risks, and improvement opportunities and communicate them to leadership.

Procurement & Cost Management

• Support procurement cost-savings initiatives through tactical negotiations.
• Align site-level execution with global sourcing and category strategies.
• Collaborate closely with Tactical Buyers and Material Planning teams to ensure master schedule execution.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop a team of 5–10 employees including cycle counters, material coordinators, and buyer/planners.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Planning, Procurement, and Aftermarket teams.
• Act as a change agent within a global matrix organization.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Finance, or related field.
• Master’s degree preferred.

Certifications (Preferred)

• ASCM/APICS (CSCP, CPIM, CLTD) or ISM certification.

Experience

• 5 years of progressive experience in Materials Management or Supply Chain.
• Experience in large, global, or process-driven manufacturing environments.
• Manufacturing operations experience preferred.
• Oracle ERP experience preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership capability and experience working in a matrix organization.

Leadership Scope

• Direct management of 5–10 team members.
• Accountability for team performance, development, and operational execution.