Material Manager

Company Overview

Upchurch is a rapidly growing , full-service building engineering company providing mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical services across the southeastern United States. Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Horn Lake, MS, Upchurch has grown through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions , establishing a strong reputation for quality, reliability, and service excellence. We offer end-to-end solutions—from design and installation to ongoing maintenance and emergency support— helping clients maximize building performance, energy efficiency, and equipment lifespan .

Position Summary

The Material Manager is responsible for strategic planning, procurement coordination, inventory control, warehousing, logistics, and material distribution functions supporting multiple construction projects and fabrication facilities. This role ensures the timely availability of materials, equipment, tools, and fabricated components required to maintain project schedules, maximize fabrication productivity, and minimize inventory costs.

The Material Manager serves as the primary link between project management, procurement, fabrication, warehouse operations, vendors, and field construction teams to ensure efficient material flow from purchase order through installation.

Key Responsibilities

Materials Planning & Management

• Develop and implement company-wide material management strategies.

• Coordinate material requirements with Project Managers, Project Engineers, Estimators, Fabrication Managers, and Procurement personnel.

• Forecast material demand based on project schedules, fabrication requirements, and manpower loading plans.

• Ensure material availability aligns with project milestones and construction schedules.

• Monitor long-lead and critical-path materials.

• Establish and maintain material tracking systems for all projects.

Warehouse & Inventory Management

• Manage warehouse operations, inventory accuracy, and material control processes.

• Develop inventory levels, stock replenishment plans, and cycle count programs.

• Implement inventory management best practices to reduce shrinkage, shortages, and excess stock.

• Oversee receiving, storage, staging, and distribution activities.

• Ensure proper identification, labeling, and preservation of materials.

• Monitor inventory turns and warehouse utilization.

Fabrication Shop Support

• Coordinate material flow to fabrication facilities.

• Ensure fabrication teams receive required materials, fittings, equipment, and assemblies on schedule.

• Work closely with Fabrication Managers to identify shortages and production constraints.

• Prioritize material allocation based on project schedules and fabrication workload.

• Monitor fabrication material consumption and reconcile usage.

Project Site Logistics

• Coordinate deliveries to active construction sites.

• Develop site-specific material handling and staging plans.

• Manage transportation schedules and delivery logistics.

• Ensure materials arrive complete, damage-free, and according to project requirements.

• Coordinate return of surplus materials and equipment.

Procurement Coordination

• Collaborate with purchasing teams and vendors to ensure timely delivery of materials.

• Review and monitor purchase order status reports.

• Identify supply chain risks and develop mitigation plans.

• Resolve vendor delivery issues and material shortages.

• Participate in vendor performance evaluations.

• Support strategic sourcing initiatives and cost-saving opportunities.

Material Tracking & Reporting

• Maintain accurate material status reports for all active projects.

• Generate inventory, warehouse, and project material utilization reports.

• Track material costs against budgets.

• Monitor material waste and implement improvement initiatives.

• Provide weekly updates to Operations and Project Management leadership.

• Utilize ERP, inventory, and project management software for reporting and analysis.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead warehouse supervisors, inventory coordinators, material handlers, drivers, and logistics personnel.

• Establish performance objectives and accountability measures.

• Train employees on material handling procedures and inventory control practices.

• Conduct performance evaluations and workforce planning.

• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Safety & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with OSHA standards and company safety policies.

• Maintain organized and safe warehouse and yard operations.

• Ensure proper storage and handling of materials and equipment.

• Monitor DOT and transportation regulatory compliance as applicable.

• Participate in safety audits and incident investigations.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Construction Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or related field preferred.

• Equivalent combination of education and experience considered.

Experience

• 7+ years of material management, warehouse management, logistics, or procurement experience.

• 5+ years of leadership experience.

• Experience supporting large-scale commercial, industrial, healthcare, manufacturing, data center, or mission-critical construction projects.

• Experience within an MEP contracting, mechanical, piping, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, or fabrication environment strongly preferred.

Technical Skills

• ERP systems (Vista, SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or similar).

• Inventory management software.

• Microsoft Office Suite, including advanced Excel.

• Material tracking systems and barcode technology.

• Construction scheduling software experience preferred (P6, Microsoft Project).

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of MEP materials, fabrication processes, and construction operations.

• Knowledge of warehouse management and inventory control best practices.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Excellent communication and leadership abilities.

• Budgeting and cost-control experience.

• Understanding of supply chain management principles.

• Strong negotiation and vendor management skills.

• Ability to work effectively with field and office personnel.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Inventory accuracy percentage.

• Material availability rate.

• On-time delivery performance.

• Fabrication material availability.

• Warehouse productivity metrics.

• Inventory turnover ratio.

• Material waste reduction.

• Procurement lead-time performance.

• Project material cost variance.

• Safety performance and compliance metrics.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in office, warehouse, fabrication shop, and construction site environments.

• Ability to walk projects, yards, and warehouse facilities.

• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally.

• Ability to travel between fabrication facilities, warehouses, and project locations as required.

This position is a senior operations role responsible for ensuring all projects and fabrication operations have the right material, in the right place, at the right time, and at the lowest practical total cost.

Benefits:

• Competitive pay based on experience.

• Health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Paid time off and holiday pay.

• Opportunities for professional development and certification assistance.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Upchurch Companies provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.