Job Description

Materials / Supply Chain Manager 

Summary

The Materials / Supply Chain Manager leads global sourcing, procurement, logistics, warehouse operations, and supply chain systems to ensure timely, cost-effective, and compliant material availability for a diverse industrial automation product portfolio. This role manages buyers, planners, and warehouse personnel and is responsible for supplier performance, risk mitigation, inventory strategy, data/ERP integrity, and continuous improvement across the end-to-end supply chain. The role also partners cross-functionally to support S&OP, business continuity, and operational excellence initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

1. Materials Planning & MRP Execution
   • Lead materials planning, MRP execution, and purchase order management to ensure uninterrupted production and order fulfillment.
   • Translate forecasts, sales orders, and production schedules into actionable material plans.
   • Maintain and optimize planning parameters including lead times, lot sizes, safety stock, and reorder points.
   • Support S&OP activities by aligning material plans with demand, capacity, and inventory targets.

1. Inventory Management & Optimization
   • Own inventory strategy to balance availability, turns, and working capital.
   • Monitor inventory levels, excess and obsolete material, and slow-moving stock; drive corrective actions.
   • Establish and maintain cycle count programs, inventory accuracy targets, and root-cause analysis.
   • Partner with Finance on inventory valuation, reserves, and accuracy.

1. Purchasing & Supplier Coordination
   • Manage day-to-day purchasing activities to ensure timely material availability.
   • Coordinate with suppliers on delivery schedules, shortages, expedites, and capacity constraints.
   • Track supplier delivery performance and collaborate on corrective actions as needed.
   • Support sourcing initiatives by providing material usage, demand trends, and performance data.

1. Global Sourcing & Supplier Relationship Management
   • Lead sourcing strategies for domestic and international suppliers across metals, machined components, bearings, motors, controls, and electronic devices.
   • Own supplier selection, business allocation, negotiation (pricing, terms, capacity), and contract management.
   • Monitor and improve supplier KPIs: OTIF, quality PPM, lead-time adherence, responsiveness, and capacity commitments.
   • Drive supply chain risk reduction: dual-sourcing, geographic diversification, financial/risk assessments, and contingency planning.
   • Partner with Quality on supplier audits, corrective actions, and ongoing improvement plans.

1. Logistics & Transportation Management
   • Oversee inbound and outbound logistics, including international freight, carrier management, customs brokerage, and Incoterms compliance.
   • Reduce logistics costs through lane optimization, mode selection, and performance management with 3PL and freight forwarding partners.
   • Lead freight budget forecasting and cost control.

1. Compliance, Documentation & ERP/Data Governance
   • Ensure adherence to import/export regulations and industry-specific requirements (Aero/Defense, Medical Device, Food Processing).
   • Maintain compliance documentation: Certificates of Conformance, Country of Origin, ITAR/EAR screening, RoHS/REACH, SDS, and conflict minerals.
   • Own ERP data integrity for sourcing, costing, BOM structure, lead times, planning parameters, and inventory records.
   • Lead supply chain system improvements, including digital tools, dashboards, automation, and supplier connectivity.

1. Leadership, Project Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration
   • Lead, coach, and develop buyers, planners, and warehouse staff; establish clear roles, goals, and development plans.
   • Partner with Engineering, Production, Quality, Sales, Finance, and Customer Service to align materials availability with business needs.
   • Lead supply chain improvement projects, cost-savings initiatives, and business continuity planning.
   • Provide data-driven reporting on supply chain performance, risks, and opportunities.
   • Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive experience in materials management / global supply chain
• Prior experience managing teams (buyers, planners, warehouse/operations personnel).
• Strong understanding of metals sourcing, machining, electromechanical components, and industrial automation supply chains.
• Experience with international suppliers (Asia, Europe, North America) including negotiation and contract management.
• Knowledge of import/export regulations and materials compliance (ITAR/EAR, RoHS/REACH, CoO, conflict minerals).
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems, planning parameters, and data-driven decision making.
• Analytical capability: cost modeling, forecasting, demand planning, lead time analysis, and KPI tracking.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in regulated or compliance-heavy industries (A&D, Medical Device, Food Processing).
• APICS CSCP, CPIM, or equivalent certification.
• Lean/Six Sigma or continuous improvement training.
• Experience with processes, automation, and inventory control systems.
• Exposure to S&OP processes, digital transformation, or advanced analytics.

Key Metrics for Success

• Supplier OTIF and quality PPM
• Inventory turns, safety stock adherence, and cycle count variance
• Forecast and lead-time reliability
• PPV and total landed cost optimization
• Freight cost as % of revenue / cost per pound
• Dock-to-stock time, receiving/picking accuracy
• Compliance audit pass rate
• Team engagement, performance, and retention metrics