Materials Manager

Brief Description

The Materials Manager is responsible for supply chain operations consisting of strategic planning, procurement, inventory management, and logistics functions. The role requires reliable, cost-efficient procurement of hardware, mounts, raw materials, resins, glass fibers, and consumables for all manufacturing operations. The goal is to ensures that raw materials, consumables, and finished goods are available to meet production schedules while optimizing cost, quality, and lead times.

This position plays a critical role in balancing production flow, working capital, and supplier performance in a technically demanding, highly regulated environment. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in advanced materials management, ERP/MRP systems, and compliance traceability while driving continuous improvement across the global supply chain.

• Strategic Materials Planning
• Develop and execute Materials Requirements Planning (MRP) strategies to align with composite production forecasts and growth projections.
• Work closely with master scheduling to ensure optimal raw material and component availability while minimizing excess inventory.
• Create annual material forecasts tied to organizational forecasts and growth projections.
• Lead monthly material forecast meetings with stakeholders to ensure adequate raw material and component availability while minimizing excess inventory.
• Analyze material usage trends and optimize purchasing strategies.
• Collaborate with Product Management and Engineering to support material needs for new product development (NPDs).
• Procurement & Supplier Development
• Maintain supplier relationships and monitor performance according to defined KPIs.
• Source and manage supplier relationships for hardware, mounts and other formed materials domestically and internationally.
• Source and manage supplier relationships for coatings, composite-grade resins, fibers, adhesives, cores, and films.
• Evaluate suppliers based on quality systems, lot traceability, certifications (e.g., AS9100, ISO 9001), and sustainability.
• Negotiate strategic supply agreements to stabilize pricing and lead times for critical materials with long cure or shelf-life considerations.
• Drive cost reduction initiatives through supplier negotiations and process improvements.
• Implement dual sourcing strategies for strategic, high risk or single-source materials.
• Partner with R&D and Quality to qualify new materials and suppliers according to customer and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain redundant suppliers (international and domestic) for key products to minimize disruptions and maintain price competition.
• Collaborate with Quality to resolve material-related issues.
• Inventory & Warehouse Management
• Manage all warehouse operations including receiving, storage, kitting, and distribution of temperature-sensitive materials.
• Maintain rigorous lot control, shelf-life tracking, and environmental storage compliance (e.g., freezer, humidity, and temperature logs).
• Oversee cycle counting and physical inventory programs to sustain 98–100% accuracy.
• Establish optimal safety stocks and reorder points based on usage data and forecast accuracy.
• Logistics & Compliance
• Coordinate inbound and outbound shipments, ensuring compliance with hazardous materials (HAZMAT), and customer-specific packaging standards.
• Create a strategic logistics plan that supports domestic and international outbound freight for all products.
• Work closely with local and national freight companies to maintain flexibility and cost competitive.
• Optimize freight cost, mode selection, and carrier performance through data-driven analysis.
• Oversee transportation for sensitive materials requiring special handling or temperature control.
• Continuous Improvement & Systems Leadership
• Drive Lean initiatives to reduce waste, lead time, and working capital.
• Champion ERP/MRP utilization to improve data accuracy, demand visibility, and material flow.
• Partner with IS/IT team for the advancement and integration of software, technology and AI to current processes and our ERP/MRP.
• Develop and monitor KPIs for material availability, supplier performance, inventory turns, and cost…