Strategic Materials & Planning Manager

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

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Strategic Materials & Planning Manager to lead supply chain operations within a manufacturing environment supporting engineered-to-order and configure-to-order products. This position is responsible for material planning, procurement strategy, inventory performance, supplier management, and team leadership while ensuring uninterrupted support of production schedules and customer projects.

This role combines day-to-day operational oversight with long-term supply chain planning and requires close collaboration with project management, sales, engineering, production, quality, and executive leadership teams.

### Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Buyer Planners.
Establish performance goals, conduct reviews, and support employee development.
Balance workloads across team members based on project demands and business priorities.
Promote effective ERP/MRP utilization and ensure planning activities are executed through established systems.
Support cross-training, succession planning, and professional development initiatives.

Material Planning & Project Support

Align material plans with project schedules, customer commitments, and production requirements.
Participate in project kickoff activities to identify long-lead components and supply risks.
Monitor shortages and coordinate corrective actions to minimize project disruptions.
Partner with project management teams to ensure material availability supports delivery commitments.
Support quick-ship, configure-to-order, and engineered-to-order programs.

Sales & Demand Planning

Provide material availability and lead-time guidance during quoting and order planning activities.
Participate in Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) discussions.
Review sales forecasts, backlog trends, and anticipated demand to support inventory decisions.
Assist with customer stocking agreements, blanket orders, and inventory programs.

Strategic Supply Chain Management

Develop sourcing strategies for critical and long-lead materials.
Identify supply chain risks and implement mitigation plans, including dual sourcing, safety stock, and supplier partnerships.
Support commodity strategy initiatives and supplier positioning efforts.
Evaluate make-versus-buy opportunities and provide recommendations to leadership.
Monitor market trends, pricing changes, tariffs, and supply constraints impacting operations.

Inventory & Warehouse Performance

Manage inventory levels, working capital, inventory turns, and excess or obsolete inventory.
Establish and maintain inventory policies including safety stock, reorder points, and cycle count programs.
Lead annual physical inventory activities and inventory reconciliation efforts.
Drive improvements in inventory accuracy and overall inventory performance.

Supplier Management

Monitor supplier performance related to delivery, quality, responsiveness, and lead times.
Conduct supplier business reviews and manage performance improvement initiatives.
Support supplier qualification, development, and corrective action processes.
Participate in supplier negotiations and long-term agreement management.
Partner with quality teams on SCAR activities and supplier improvement efforts.

ERP/MRP Systems & Data Integrity

Maintain accurate item master, BOM, supplier, and planning data.
Review MRP outputs and address planning exceptions.
Support ERP system enhancements and reporting improvements.
Promote data accuracy and system discipline throughout the supply chain organization.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

Develop and present supply chain performance reports and KPI dashboards.
Analyze inventory, supplier, and material availability metrics.
Lead continuous improvement projects focused on planning effectiveness, inventory optimization, warehouse efficiency, and supplier performance.
Support Lean Manufacturing, 5S, and waste-reduction initiatives.

### Performance Metrics

Success in this role will be measured through:

Inventory turns

Material availability to schedule

Supplier on-time delivery performance

Purchase price variance (PPV)

Excess and obsolete inventory reduction

Production shortage prevention

Supplier quality performance

Strategic inventory positioning for critical materials

### Required Qualifications

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 of 3 years leading buyers, planners, or supply chain personnel.

Experience supporting electrical, electromechanical, industrial, or engineered manufacturing operations.

Strong knowledge of material planning, procurement, inventory management, and supplier performance programs.

Advanced experience with ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Epicor, Infor, IFS, or similar platforms.

Proven success improving inventory performance while maintaining material availability.

Experience working closely with project management, engineering, sales, operations, and finance teams.

Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

Advanced Microsoft Excel and reporting capabilities.

### Preferred Qualifications

APICS CPIM, CSCP, CPSM, C.P.M., or related certifications.

Experience supporting power distribution products including switchgear, UPS systems, PDCs, STS, RPPs, and related equipment.

Familiarity with UL, ANSI, NEMA, NEC, and IEC standards.

Experience developing sourcing strategies for electromechanical components such as breakers, transformers, enclosures, bus systems, and power electronics.

Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification.

Experience with VMI, consignment inventory, blanket purchase agreements, and strategic inventory programs.

Exposure to import compliance and international sourcing activities.

### Benefits

Competitive salary based on experience

Comprehensive benefits package

Career growth opportunities

Professional development support

Collaborative leadership environment

### Work Environment

This is a fully on-site position requiring regular interaction with manufacturing, warehouse, and receiving operations. Candidates should be comfortable working in an industrial environment and participating in inventory activities, supplier visits, and operational reviews. Travel up to 20% is expected.

Strategic Materials & Planning Manager