Senior Materials Manager

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Senior Materials Manager, reporting to the VP Supply Chain, will provide strategic and operational leadership for all materials management functions, ensuring the effective planning, procurement, inventory management, warehousing, and movement of materials required to support manufacturing operations and future growth. Bringing deep expertise in supply chain, demand planning, and lean manufacturing principles, this individual will help strengthen systems, processes, and organizational structure to build a scalable foundation for success.

Working closely with sales and operations, the Senior Materials Manager will translate sales forecasts into material requirements, balancing inventory levels, purchasing strategies, global supply chain considerations, and production demands. The role will oversee the buying, inventory, and warehouse teams while driving continuous improvement initiatives that optimize cost, efficiency, service levels, and operational performance.

• Develop and execute materials management, procurement, inventory, and warehousing strategies that support current operations and future organizational growth.
• Collaborate with Sales, Operations, and Engineering to translate customer demand forecasts into effective material planning and supply chain strategies.
• Drive continuous improvement, lean principles, and scalable processes to strengthen operational performance, efficiency, and service delivery.

• Oversee procurement activities to ensure the timely acquisition of raw materials, components, and supplies required to meet production schedules and customer commitments.
• Maintain optimal inventory levels by balancing demand requirements, lead times, working capital, and inventory risk while minimizing excess and obsolete stock.
• Utilize ERP/MRP systems and forecasting tools to support accurate planning, inventory control, and data-driven decision-making.

• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure quality, cost competitiveness, reliability, and continuity of supply.
• Collaborate with suppliers and logistics partners to manage lead times, resolve supply chain disruptions, and support on-time delivery performance.
• Monitor market conditions, supplier performance, and global supply chain risks, implementing mitigation strategies where required.

• Lead initiatives that improve material flow, inventory accuracy, warehouse operations, and overall supply chain efficiency.
• Monitor key performance indicators including inventory turns, material availability, supplier performance, cost management, and on-time delivery.
• Identify and implement opportunities for cost savings, process optimization, and operational effectiveness while maintaining quality and customer service standards.

• Provide leadership, coaching, and direction to procurement, inventory management, and warehousing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Evaluate organizational structure, processes, and capabilities to ensure the team is positioned to support business growth and evolving operational requirements.
• Partner with Human Resources on talent development, succession planning, workforce planning, and talent risk management initiatives while motivating and inspiring teams through effective communication and leadership.

• Achieve 95% supplier on-time delivery performance to improve material availability, production continuity, and customer fulfillment.
• Increase inventory turns to 5.5 within the first year, establishing a path toward a long-term target of 7.0 while maintaining service levels and material availability.
• Enhance warehouse efficiency by reducing material handling and physical inventory movements through the implementation of optimized systems, processes, and inventory management practices.

Given the pivotal role this individual will be expected to play in…