Materials Manager

The Materials Manager is responsible for leading all planning, material control, and inventory management functions to ensure that production, procurement, and shipping activities align with company delivery, cost, and quality objectives. This position oversees material flow from planning through procurement, ensuring accuracy in SAP/MRP systems, visibility of order status, and timely availability of components to meet production requirements. The Materials Manager serves as the key interface between Operations, Finance, Purchasing, Quality and Engineering — driving process consistency, continuous improvement, and cross-functional communication. The role requires strong leadership, data-driven decision-making, and an ability to balance short-term production demands with long-term strategic materials planning. Key Responsibilities Leadership & Department Management Lead, coach, and develop the materials team, including the Senior Production Planner (Senior MRP Controller) and MRP Controllers, ensuring clear accountability and performance standards. Provide direction for production planning, scheduling, and material control functions. Establish department goals aligned with corporate delivery and efficiency targets. Support and promote a culture of collaboration, professionalism, and continuous improvement. Participate as a key member of the Operations leadership team in strategic and tactical decision‑making. Ensure the materials organization is structured to provide redundancy, skill development, and career progression within the planning and inventory functions. Conduct regular one‑on‑one reviews with the Senior Production Planner and MRP Controllers to monitor progress toward departmental KPIs. Ensure department staffing and skillsets align with long‑term business growth and succession planning. Material Planning & Control Oversee all material requirements planning (MRP) activities, ensuring timely procurement and availability of materials for production. Monitor MRP exception reports and direct corrective actions to eliminate shortages or bottlenecks. Ensure alignment between the Master Production Schedule (MPS) and material planning output. Maintain visibility of all planned and short orders through to kitting and readiness for assembly. Ensure all BOM (Bill of Material) changes, ECNs, and new product introductions are accurately reflected in SAP. Coordinate with Purchasing and Engineering on material readiness for prototypes, repairs, and production builds. Inventory Management Oversee all inventory control activities, ensuring accuracy of material transactions, locations, and counts within SAP. Implement inventory accuracy and reduction programs to minimize excess and obsolete stock. Maintain proper inventory levels to support production while optimizing working capital. Oversee cycle counting programs and reconciliation processes. Analyze material usage and demand trends to forecast future needs. Collaborate with the Purchasing team to ensure procurement priorities align with production needs. Support vendor performance management through schedule adherence, quality, and on‑time delivery metrics. Facilitate resolution of supplier‑related issues impacting material availability or quality. Lead or participate in supplier meetings as required for critical materials or components. Collaborate with stakeholders to resolve material shortages, quality issues, and lead time constraints; support sourcing initiatives for cost and delivery improvements. Data Integrity & Systems Management Ensure the accuracy and integrity of all SAP/MRP data, including routings, BOMs, material masters, and work centers. Drive consistency and discipline in the use of ERP tools for planning and materials control. Develop and distribute key materials management metrics and dashboards. Support ongoing system enhancements and MRP process improvements in coordination with IT or SAP support. Ensure compliance with master data governance standards within SAP (materials, BOMs, routings, and work centers) Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Purchasing to maintain production readiness and resolve material‑related constraints. Communicate material availability, schedule changes, and risks proactively to all stakeholders. Ensure that planning and materials priorities are communicated effectively across departments. Represent the materials function in production meetings and cross‑functional reviews. Collaborate with Finance to ensure material valuation and production completion data align with monthly and quarterly reporting requirements. Ensure all departmental KPI dashboards and MRP performance metrics are reviewed weekly with the Senior Production Planner to maintain alignment between planning and materials objectives. Identify and implement opportunities for process improvements that enhance material flow, planning accuracy, and on‑time delivery. Ensure adherence to company policies and procedures related to materials, inventory, and procurement. Lead initiatives to standardize planning and control processes across business units. Support audits and compliance efforts related to inventory accuracy and ERP controls. Champion site alignment of material control processes to improve scalability and consistency. Qualifications Strong leadership and team development skills. Advanced understanding of SAP/MRP systems and data management principles. Exceptional analytical and problem‑solving abilities. Excellent communication and organizational skills; able to influence across departments. Proven ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment. Demonstrated success in materials planning, production control, and inventory optimization. Continuous improvement mindset and familiarity with Lean or Six Sigma practices preferred. Job Summary Business Type: Manufacturing & Construction #J-18808-Ljbffr