Materials Manager

Overview

We’re Watts. Together, we’re reimagining the future of water. We feel proud every day about what we do. We’re all part of the same crucial mission, no matter what function we support – it’s to provide safe, clean water for the world, and to protect our planet’s most valuable resource.

This highly motivated and results-driven individual, as part of the Operations Leadership team, will be responsible for oversight of all aspects of inventory control, ensuring the company has a steady flow of materials to meet production needs. This involves coordinating with internal teams, oversight of all inventory control staff, managing vendor relationships, coordinating supply chain activities, and maintaining optimal inventory levels.

The Materials Manager role requires strong organization and priority management skills, attention to detail, and the ability to negotiate effectively with suppliers.

This position has the following direct reports: 3 Exempt Planners, 1 purchasing agent, and 2 hourly reports.

This position reports to the Plant Manager, is onsite, and is based in Saint Pauls, NC.

• Provide senior‑level leadership and oversight of shipping, receiving, planning, procurement, and inventory control functions, ensuring alignment with operational, financial, and customer service objectives.
• Establish and continuously improve enterprise-wide material management strategies, including policies, procedures, controls, and systems to optimize cost, working capital, service levels, and operational efficiency.
• Lead the planning and execution of end‑to‑end materials management activities, including procurement, inventory control, production planning, and quality coordination, to support manufacturing schedules and customer demand.
• Ensure quality, continuity, and timeliness of material flow by maintaining balanced inventory levels, mitigating supply risk, preventing stock‑outs, and minimizing excess and obsolete inventory.
• Own inventory performance metrics, including inventory turns, backorders, past‑due backlog, cash flow impact, and service levels, and drive corrective actions to achieve targets.
• Partner with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Finance to develop robust demand forecasts, including new product introductions, and maintain rolling short‑ and mid‑term inventory and cash flow projections.
• Provide strategic leadership to Planning personnel in the effective use of Master Production Scheduling (MPS), Material Requirements Planning (MRP), and ERP systems, ensuring data integrity and disciplined processes.
• Oversee procurement governance, including review and approval of key purchase orders, change notices, claims, and contracts to ensure compliance with company policy and risk management standards.
• Allocate and prioritize procurement and planning resources, ensuring alignment to business priorities and capacity constraints.
• Direct the identification, disposition, and recovery value of surplus, excess, and obsolete inventory.
• Act as a senior cross‑functional leader, influencing decisions across operations, supply chain, finance, and commercial teams; drive collaboration and escalation where needed to resolve complex supply challenges.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high‑performing team, building capability, succession, and a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and data‑driven decision making.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in materials management, supply chain, planning, and/or procurement.
• 2+ years in a senior leadership or people management role.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross‑functional material planning and inventory strategies within a manufacturing or distribution environment.
• Strong executive communication skills, with the ability to analyze and interpret complex business data and present recommendations to senior leadership.
• Deep expertise with ERP, MRP/MPS systems, and planning tools, and strong proficiency in Microsoft 365 and data analysis applications.

• Lean or Six Sigma Green Belt…