Manager, Materials

Make a Difference in YOUR Career!

Our vision is both simple and ambitious: to put our drinks on every table.

We are the leading global independent beverage solutions provider. We serve a broad range of national and international retailers as well as Global, National and Emerging (GNE) brands. Our products are distributed worldwide from our production sites in Europe, North America, and Australia. Although our own branding may not appear on the labels of the beverages we produce, there is a good chance you are reading this while sipping one of our drinks.

Our ambition is to continually improve and it's what keeps us at the top of our game. We are solutions-based. We are innovative. We seek out new challenges and conquer them. This is our company ethos, but it's our people's too:
Refresco is at the cutting edge of a fast-moving industry because we have passionate people pushing the boundaries of what's best.

Stop and think: how would YOU put our drinks on every table?

Summary

Description:

The Materials Manager is responsible for delivering organizational and customer value across people, process, and technology within North America Materials Management. This role owns end-to-end material planning performance within the S&OP cycle, including supplier forecasting, inventory strategy, and service management.

The Materials Manager drives alignment across cross-functional partners, translates demand and supply insights into actionable plans, and leads a high-performing team to achieve service, cost, and working capital objectives. Success in this role requires strong leadership, analytical thinking, and the ability to proactively manage risk while identifying opportunities for optimization.

Essential Functions:

* Team Leadership & Development:

* Lead, coach, and develop a team of Materials Specialists and Analysts

* Build individual and team capability through structured development plans, coaching, and feedback

* Foster a high-performance, collaborative, and results-driven team culture

* Support talent acquisition, succession planning, and capability building across the function

* S&OP and Material Planning Ownership:

* Own material plan delivery within the S&OP cycle across North America

* Drive end-to-end material plan performance by translating demand and supply insights into actionable strategies

* Proactively manage forecast variability, inventory positioning, supply risks, and contract commitments

* Identify and mitigate risks while capturing opportunities to optimize service, cost, and working capital

* Support financial planning cycles (AOP, 3+9, 8+4) related to working capital, transfers, and warehousing

* Serve as the primary decision-maker for material-related tradeoffs impacting service, cost, and inventory

* Supplier & Operational Execution

* Manage supplier forecasts and master order alignment for key material categories (e.g., ingredients, packaging)

* Lead supplier service performance management through scorecards, KPIs, and direct engagement

* Drive contract balancing and ensure alignment with procurement commitments

* Support production escalations and resolve material-related supply disruptions

* Manage imported material ordering processes and tracking systems

* Inventory & Planning Optimization

* Lead inventory strategy, including days of supply (DOS) management and aged inventory reduction

* Oversee material risk identification and inventory projection reporting

* Optimize ordering strategies based on pricing, MOQ, and inventory targets

* Ensure accuracy and governance of master data, BOMs, and MRP parameters

* Cross-Functional Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

* Partner with Supply Chain, Operations, Procurement, Finance, Commercialization, and external suppliers

* Support new product introductions and ensure material readiness for launches and design changes

* Forecast 3PL warehouse capacity and material flow requirements

* Drive standardization, best practices, and continuous improvement in material planning processes

* Participate in cross-functional initiatives to achieve business and operational goals

Required Skills and

Competencies:

* 2+ years of direct people management experience

* Experience in MRP, material planning, and order management

* Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving capabilities

* Proven ability to lead cross-functional collaboration and influence decisions

* Experience with Power BI or similar tools preferred

* Strong communication and stakeholder management skills

* Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

* Demonstrated leadership in team development and coaching

* Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

Education and Experience:

* 5+ years of experience in supply chain, materials management, or related field

* Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, or related discipline preferred

* APICS certification a plus

* Experience in food/beverage manufacturing or similar industry strongly preferred

* Proven ability to build collaborative relationships across…