Materials Manager

Industry: Industrial Automation / Custom Machinery / Manufacturing

Reports to: Director of Operations / Manufacturing

Direct Reports: Buyers, Planners, Inventory & Logistics Team

We are seeking an experienced Materials Manager to lead all materials, purchasing, planning, and inventory functions within a Build-to-Order, project-driven automation environment
. This role is critical to ensuring on-time project execution, cost control, and material availability for complex custom equipment builds.

The ideal candidate understands the challenges of high-mix, low-volume manufacturing
, long-lead components, engineering change management, and tight customer delivery schedules common in automation and custom machinery operations.

• Own all materials management functions including purchasing, planning, inventory control, receiving, and logistics.
• Lead and develop buyers, planners, and inventory personnel.
• Ensure material availability aligns with project schedules and engineering releases
  .
• Manage supplier performance, lead times, pricing, and delivery commitments.

• Support Build-to-Order automation projects from kickoff through final build.
• Coordinate closely with Engineering, Project Management, and Manufacturing.
• Manage material flow for custom BOMs, engineered-to-order components, and frequent design changes.
• Proactively identify and mitigate material risks that could impact project timelines.

• Maintain accurate inventory levels while minimizing excess and obsolete material.
• Implement inventory strategies appropriate for high-mix, low-volume environments
  .
• Drive cost reductions through supplier negotiations, sourcing strategies, and inventory optimization.
• Support budgeting and forecasting activities tied to project demand.

• Utilize ERP/MRP systems to manage purchasing, planning, and inventory (Epicor, SAP, Oracle, or similar).
• Improve material planning accuracy, data integrity, and reporting.
• Establish KPIs for supplier performance, inventory turns, shortages, and on-time delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across materials and supply chain functions.

• Act as the primary materials liaison between Engineering, Manufacturing, and Project Management.
• Participate in production planning meetings and project reviews.
• Support leadership during customer escalations related to material availability or delivery.

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field preferred.
• 5–10+ years of progressive materials or supply chain leadership experience.
• Required:
  Experience in industrial automation, custom machinery, or Build-to-Order manufacturing environments.
• Strong understanding of engineered BOMs, long-lead components, and project-based manufacturing.
• Experience managing buyers, planners, or materials teams.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

• Comfortable operating in fast-paced, non-repetitive manufacturing environments.
• Proactive, detail-oriented, and execution-focused.
• Strong communicator who can align technical, operational, and supplier teams.
• Able to manage ambiguity and shifting priorities common in automation projects.