Materials Management Specialist

Job Title: Materials Management Specialist

Location: Brookfield, CT 06804

Job type: Full Time

Salary Range:

General Description:

The Materials Management Specialist supports the effective flow of materials throughout the organization by coordinating purchasing activities, maintaining accurate inventory and material data, supporting vendor relationships, and helping ensure materials are available to meet production requirements.

The position works closely with Operations, Production Planning, Warehouse, Customer Service, Quality, and product development teams. The role is responsible for developing a thorough understanding of the company's materials, vendors, products, systems, and workflows and using that knowledge to support accurate and efficient materials management.

The objective of the position is to develop reliable day-to-day ownership of the company's materials management systems, including purchasing execution, inventory accuracy, material records, vendor information, and material availability. As experience and knowledge of the business develop, the position will assume increasing responsibility for supplier communication, sourcing, cost management, and material-related process improvement.

The position is intended to develop progressively. Initial responsibilities will emphasize purchasing support, material records, inventory accuracy, documentation, and vendor follow-up. Strategic supplier decisions, significant commercial negotiations, technical material approvals, and major new-product sourcing decisions will remain under the direction of the Operations Manager until appropriate responsibility is delegated.

Reports to: Operations Manager

Responsibilities:

• Works closely with existing team members to learn the company's materials, vendors, purchasing processes, inventory systems, and production requirements.
• Manages multiple purchasing, materials, documentation, and follow-up priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Prepares and issues purchase orders for raw materials, packaging components, fragrance oils, chemicals, and other production materials.
• Reviews material requirements and purchasing recommendations to identify upcoming needs and potential shortages.
• Follows up with vendors regarding order acknowledgements, lead times, availability, pricing, and delivery schedules.
• Maintains accurate expected delivery and incoming-material information and communicates material availability to Production Planning and Operations.
• Identifies material shortages or potential supply issues and escalates them appropriately.
• Assists with expedited purchasing when production requirements warrant.
• Maintains current vendor pricing, lead times, minimum order quantities, purchasing units, and other supplier information.
• Supports identification and evaluation of alternate suppliers, materials, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Supports and coordinates cycle-counting activities and works with Warehouse personnel to maintain inventory accuracy.
• Researches inventory discrepancies and assists in identifying and correcting root causes.
• Reviews material usage, obsolete inventory, and unusual inventory conditions as needed.
• Creates and maintains raw material, packaging, and other inventory item records.
• Assists with creation and maintenance of finished-good Bills of Material and related production information.
• Maintains accurate material descriptions, costs, vendor information, purchasing units, and related item-master information.
• Reviews BOM and item information for accuracy when new products are transferred into production.
• Assists with maintaining consistent item-number, material-data, and documentation standards.
• Coordinates the administrative flow of artwork, proofs, and specifications for printed packaging and components.
• Maintains organized records of approved artwork and revisions and helps ensure the correct approved version of printed material is ordered.
• Communicates with suppliers regarding proofs, specifications, revisions, quotations, and production requirements.
• Assists with vendor quote comparisons, cost analysis, and periodic vendor performance review.
• Escalates significant cost, quality, delivery, or supply concerns to the Operations Manager.
• Assists with sourcing materials for new-product development, including requesting samples, quotations, specifications, and supporting documentation from suppliers.
• Coordinates receipt and organization of development materials and maintains records of prospective materials and vendor quotations.
• Assists with transitioning approved development materials into standard production items.
• Obtains and organizes supplier documentation including SDS, technical data, regulatory statements, certificates, and specifications.
• Maintains current material documentation in company systems and files and supports Quality and Operations with customer or regulatory documentation requests.
• Assists with maintaining accurate material information used in finished-product SDS and other compliance documentation.
• Works with Production Planning and Distribution to provide accurate material availability and incoming-material information necessary for production scheduling.
• Works with Customer Service & Systems to ensure new orders, new items, and customer requirements are accurately communicated into operational systems.
• Identifies opportunities to improve purchasing, inventory, materials management, and related business processes and works with Management to implement approved improvements.
• As knowledge and experience develop, assumes increasing ownership of routine purchasing, supplier communication, materials management, sourcing, cost management, and material-related systems.

Minimum Educational Qualifications:

• Must have a high school diploma or greater.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, or a related field is a plus.
• Must speak English. Bilingual Spanish is a plus.

Minimum Previous Experience:

• Previous purchasing, inventory, materials management, manufacturing, or supply-chain experience is a plus.
• Experience with ERP systems, inventory systems, or purchasing software is a plus.
• Entry-level candidates with appropriate education, aptitude, and willingness to learn will be considered.

Other Skills:

• Organization and Attention to Detail
• Analytical Problem Solving
• Purchasing and Vendor Communication
• Inventory Management
• Data Accuracy and Record Maintenance
• Ability to learn manufacturing materials, products, and processes
• Ability to learn new software & systems
• Project Management
• Scheduling and Follow-Up
• Data Entry
• Proficiency with computers and business systems (Microsoft Office, email, data entry including Word and Excel)
• File Management
• People Skills
• Communication Skills
• Ability to develop increasing independence and ownership as knowledge and experience grow