Senior Materials Manager (Decatur)

The Materials Operations Leader is responsible for overseeing all aspects of materials management, including receiving, shipping, and material delivery, to ensure efficient support of plant objectives. This role drives continuous improvement through waste reduction, problem-solving, and Kaizen initiatives aligned with the Appliance Production System. The leader is also responsible for building a high-performing team by fostering accountability, coaching employees, and developing future leaders while maintaining a strong focus on safety, quality, and cost. In partnership with Quality and Engineering, this role ensures defect-free material flow and compliance with design and performance standards, while promoting a strong safety culture through audits, incident analysis, and proactive safety programs.

• Lead Materials Operations: Oversee key areas such as Receiving, Shipping, and Material Delivery. Ensure smooth processes, monitor performance metrics, and drive improvement aligned with overall plant goals.
• Drive Continuous Improvement: Champion the Appliance Production System by identifying waste, solving problems, and leading Kaizen events to deliver long-term efficiencies.
• Inspire and Develop Your Team: Build a culture of accountability, create individual career goals, provide coaching, and develop future leaders. You'll ensure team success through structured processes, training, and a focus on safety, quality, and cost.
• Maintain Quality Excellence: Collaborate with Quality and Engineering teams to ensure defect-free materials flow, meeting all design and performance standards.
• Promote Safety Culture: Foster a safety-first mindset by managing safety programs, conducting audits, and driving root cause analysis for incidents.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering concentration.
• 7+ years of experience within materials and manufacturing and/or relevant experience within supply chain, program management or commodity management.
• Prior materials management, project execution and manufacturing experience.
• Excel and database expertise
• Excellent oral and written communication, presentation, and analytical skills
• Exceptionally strong project/program management experience & track record w/ cross-functional teams
• High level of personal ownership with ability to hold others accountable for results
• Demonstrated high energy, aggressive self-starter, team player with a strong desire to win
• Demonstrated process development and problem solving through the application of statistical materials control tools.
• Experienced change agent with outstanding facilitative leadership and problem solving skills
• Knowledge and prior working experience with new product introductions (NPI)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to independently lead, develop, manage and implement aggressive project plans both globally and domestically
• Demonstrated Lean experience
• Previous NPI Experience
• Demonstrated leadership to influence and drive change with team members, and at all levels of the organization.