Supply Chain & Materials Operations Manager

Location: Marietta, OH
Job Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire
Compensation: Starting at $95,000 annually, with higher compensation available based on qualifications and experience
Travel: Up to 20% for supplier meetings, sourcing activities, and industry events

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Supply Chain & Materials Operations Manager to oversee material planning, procurement, inventory performance, and supplier management within a manufacturing environment. This role serves as the primary leader for site-level supply chain activities and is responsible for ensuring materials are available to support production schedules while maintaining inventory efficiency and supplier accountability.

The successful candidate will lead a team of Buyer Planners, partner closely with Operations, Project Management, Sales, Engineering, and Quality teams, and help drive both day-to-day execution and long-term supply chain strategy.

### Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Development

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Buyer Planners.
Establish performance goals, conduct evaluations, and support employee growth.
Balance workloads across projects, commodities, and production demands.
Promote strong ERP/MRP discipline and data accuracy.
Support succession planning, cross-training, and professional development initiatives.

Material Planning & Production Support

Ensure material availability aligns with production schedules and customer commitments.
Participate in project planning activities to identify long-lead materials and supply risks.
Lead shortage resolution efforts and coordinate cross-functional responses when supply disruptions occur.
Monitor project demand and adjust purchasing strategies accordingly.
Support both engineered-to-order and configure-to-order manufacturing environments.

Sales & Demand Planning Collaboration

Provide lead-time guidance and material availability insights during quoting and planning activities.
Participate in forecasting and Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning (SIOP) discussions.
Maintain visibility into future demand and proactively position materials to support growth opportunities.
Assist with customer stocking programs, blanket orders, and inventory agreements.

Strategic Supply Chain Management

Identify critical materials and develop strategies to mitigate supply risks.
Support sourcing initiatives involving long-lead, high-risk, or single-source components.
Evaluate supplier capabilities, market conditions, and inventory investment opportunities.
Contribute to make-versus-buy analyses and long-term sourcing decisions.
Monitor commodity trends, pricing fluctuations, and potential supply disruptions.

Inventory & Working Capital Performance

Oversee inventory management processes, including inventory turns, excess inventory reduction, and stock availability.
Develop and maintain inventory policies, safety stock levels, reorder points, and planning parameters.
Lead physical inventory activities and inventory reconciliation efforts.
Balance inventory investment with operational requirements and production continuity.

Supplier Performance & Relationship Management

Monitor supplier delivery, quality, responsiveness, and overall performance.
Conduct supplier business reviews and establish improvement plans when necessary.
Support supplier qualification, corrective actions, and risk mitigation efforts.
Assist with pricing agreements, long-term contracts, and strategic supplier partnerships.

ERP/MRP Ownership & Process Improvement

Maintain planning data integrity, including item master records, lead times, and planning parameters.
Ensure procurement and planning activities are executed through ERP/MRP systems.
Analyze planning outputs and resolve root causes of supply chain issues.
Partner with internal stakeholders to improve system functionality and reporting capabilities.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

Develop and present supply chain performance metrics and operational dashboards.
Track inventory, supplier performance, material availability, and shortage trends.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on inventory optimization, lead-time reduction, and process efficiency.
Promote lean principles throughout warehouse, receiving, and material handling operations.

Success Measures

Performance will be evaluated through metrics such as:

Inventory turns and working capital performance
Material availability to production schedules
Supplier on-time delivery
Shortage prevention and production continuity
Excess and obsolete inventory reduction
Supplier quality performance
Strategic inventory readiness for critical materials

### Qualifications

Required

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field.
7+ years of progressive supply chain experience within a manufacturing environment.
Minimum 3 years of leadership experience supervising buyers, planners, or similar supply chain professionals.
Experience managing procurement, inventory planning, and supplier relationships in industrial manufacturing.
Strong knowledge of ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Epicor, Infor, IFS, or similar platforms.
Demonstrated success improving inventory performance while maintaining material availability.
Experience developing supplier performance programs and managing corrective action initiatives.
Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
Advanced Microsoft Excel and reporting capabilities.

Preferred

APICS CPIM, CSCP, CPSM, C.P.M., or related certifications.
Experience supporting electrical, electromechanical, or industrial equipment manufacturing.
Knowledge of supplier qualification processes and industry compliance standards.
Experience with commodity management, sourcing strategies, and inventory optimization programs.
Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification.
Experience managing domestic and international suppliers.

### Core Competencies

Supply Chain Leadership

Strategic Sourcing & Risk Management

Inventory Optimization

ERP/MRP Systems Expertise

Supplier Development

Demand Planning

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Continuous Improvement

Cost Management

Executive-Level Reporting & Communication

### Work Environment

On-site position; remote or hybrid work is not available.

Frequent interaction with production, warehouse, and receiving operations.

Exposure to industrial manufacturing environments, equipment, and moderate noise levels.

Up to 20% travel for supplier visits, sourcing reviews, and industry events.

Occasional availability outside standard business hours may be required to support critical supply chain issues.

Supply Chain & Materials Operations Manager