Senior Materials Manager

The Senior Materials Manager / Master Scheduler is responsible for leading production planning, master scheduling, and execution alignment to ensure customer demand is translated into an executable manufacturing plan. This role serves as the site's senior authority for schedule integrity, production execution readiness, and cross-functional coordination between Manufacturing, Planning, Materials, Warehouse, and Logistics. Inventory responsibility is focused on strategic alignment and performance oversight, ensuring inventory supports the production plan, on-time delivery, and business objectives—while day-to-day inventory execution is managed by supporting teams. This role is a key driver of operational rhythm, recovery execution, and delivery performance.
Essential Responsibilities

Production Planning Translate demand signals into executable production plans with clear priorities, start dates, and completion targets.
Define manufacturing completion dates on sales orders and manage slot plans and sequencing logic.
Monitor production progress versus plan and drive corrective actions to maintain schedule adherence.
Lead schedule recovery planning for execution disruptions, material constraints, or capacity gaps.
Serve as the single point of accountability for production schedule commitments.
Production Execution & Cross-Functional Coordination Partner closely with shop managers to ensure production plans are realistic, achievable, and supported by resources.
Coordinate with Sourcing, Warehouse, and Logistics teams to ensure execution readiness aligns with the production plan.
Act as the senior planning interface for Engineering, Quality, Procurement, and Operations during execution challenges.
Drive daily, weekly, and monthly execution cadence reviews focused on plan adherence and recovery.
S&OP, Capacity & Demand Alignment Lead planning and scheduling inputs into S&OP supply reviews.
Perform workload versus capacity and rough-cut capacity analysis to support demand commitments.
Support customer RFQs from a capacity, schedule, and execution risk perspective.
Align quarterly and annual demand plans with manufacturing execution capability.
Inventory Strategy & Performance Oversight Provide strategic oversight of inventory health to ensure alignment with production and delivery objectives.
Review inventory forecasts, WIP levels, and material risks as inputs to production planning decisions.
Partner with Sourcing leader to address inventory risks impacting execution or delivery.
Ensure inventory decisions support service level, cost, and cash objectives without owning daily transactions.
Systems, Reporting & Process Excellence Establish and monitor KPIs related to schedule adherence, production execution, OTD, and fulfillment performance.
Drive disciplined use of ERP/MRP systems to support planning accuracy and execution visibility.
Lead planning and execution process standardization and continuous improvement initiatives.
Ensure planning, scheduling, and execution procedures are documented and followed.
Leadership & Influence Provide direct planning, material handling, and shipping/receiving teams.
Influence materials, warehouse, and logistics teams through priorities, cadence, and execution alignment.
Drive accountability, transparency, and decision discipline across planning and execution forums.
Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Manufacturing, Business, or related field OR equivalent experience.
Minimum 5–8 years of experience in production planning, master scheduling, or manufacturing execution roles.
Demonstrated ownership of production schedules in a complex manufacturing environment.
Strong understanding of production execution, capacity planning, and SAP ERP/MRP-driven planning.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional execution and recovery efforts.
Preferred Qualifications

Prior leadership experience in planning, production control, or operations.
Experience supporting or leading S&OP processes.
Background in regulated, high-mix, or complex manufacturing environments.
Strong analytical and KPI-driven decision-making capability.
Required Skills & Competencies

Master production scheduling
Production execution and recovery leadership
Capacity planning and constraint management
SAP ERP/MRP expertise
Cross-functional influence and decision leadership
Data-driven problem solving
This description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work being performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Crane Company. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, general identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.
At Crane, we believe that attracting and retaining the highest quality people is the best insurance of success. Our goal is to recruit talented people and train them within a culture that calls for performance with trust and respect. Join us.
The unique backgrounds and differences of our associates make us stronger, more capable, and more successful.
Benefits

comprehensive health
wellness incentives
assistance with retirement savings
paid time off
paid holidays
tuition reimbursement
performance-based bonus programs for certain positions
Crane prioritizes career development for our associates. All associates receive an annual development plan that includes a mixture of on-job coaching and formal training experiences to support individual development needs. We firmly believe in associate growth that supports career progression and we will proactively support your ongoing career development.

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