Materials Manager

Position Summary

The Materials Manager is responsible for leading the Planning and Procurement functions supporting the Performance Cable Systems & Materials Division. This position ensures the timely and cost effective availability of raw materials, components, and purchased products required to meet customer demand and manufacturing requirements.

The Materials Manager oversees material planning, MRP, purchasing, sourcing, supplier negotiations, supplier performance, and supply continuity. This position works closely with Sales, Customer Service, Manufacturing, Logistics, Quality, Finance, and other functions to balance customer requirements, material availability, inventory levels, cost, supplier performance, and supply-chain risk.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Planning & Materials Management

• Lead the planning process to ensure material availability supports customer demand and manufacturing requirements.
• Oversee MRP activities and ensure planning parameters, lead times, order quantities, safety stock, and other planning data are accurate and effectively maintained.
• Translate customer orders, forecasts, production requirements, inventory levels, and supplier capabilities into effective material plans.
• Monitor material requirements and proactively identify shortages, excess or obsolete inventory, and potential supply constraints.
• Partner with Sales, Customer Service, and Manufacturing to align material plans with customer requirements and production schedules.
• Establish and monitor planning performance measures, including material availability, shortages, inventory levels, inventory turns, and supplier delivery performance.

Procurement & Purchasing

• Direct purchasing activities to obtain required materials at competitive total cost while meeting quality, delivery, and service requirements.
• Develop and implement purchasing strategies aligned with company objectives.
• Oversee purchase orders and supplier commitments to ensure materials are delivered according to established requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve purchasing terms, order quantities, lead times, and overall material costs.
• Monitor material and commodity pricing and communicate significant changes and potential business impacts to management.
• Support budgeting and financial planning related to material spend and procurement activities.

Sourcing & Supplier Management

• Identify, evaluate, qualify, and develop suppliers to support business requirements, cost objectives, capacity needs, and supply continuity.
• Lead supplier negotiations involving pricing, payment terms, lead times, minimum order quantities, capacity, delivery requirements, and other commercial considerations.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with strategic suppliers.
• Monitor supplier performance related to quality, delivery, cost, and service, and coordinate corrective actions when necessary.
• Conduct supplier meetings and business reviews and communicate supplier performance and risks to appropriate leadership.
• Develop alternate sourcing strategies for critical materials and suppliers.

Supply Chain Risk & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Identify and mitigate risks related to material availability, supplier capacity, lead times, quality, transportation, market conditions, and other supply disruptions.
• Develop contingency plans for critical materials and suppliers.
• Provide management with visibility into material availability, supplier commitments, purchasing activity, inventory exposure, and supply risks.
• Collaborate with Logistics and Inventory Control to ensure material planning and purchasing decisions support appropriate inventory levels and efficient material flow.
• Partner with Quality, Engineering, and other functions on supplier qualification, material specifications, quality requirements, and supplier related issues.

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Lead, coach, mentor, train, develop, and evaluate employees within the Planning and Procurement functions.
• Establish departmental goals, priorities, performance expectations, and operating standards.
• Develop and implement improvements to planning, procurement, sourcing, and supplier management processes.
• Utilize Lean, 5S, root-cause analysis, and other continuous improvement methodologies as appropriate.
• Identify opportunities to improve planning accuracy, supplier performance, material availability, purchasing efficiency, and overall supply-chain effectiveness.

Systems, Compliance & Safety

• Ensure accurate and effective use of ERP/MRP and purchasing systems, including planning parameters, supplier information, lead times, and material requirements.
• Maintain accurate purchasing, planning, supplier, and material records.
• Ensure Planning and Procurement activities comply with company policies, customer requirements, applicable laws, and established procedures.
• Support applicable quality and environmental management system requirements.
• Promote safe work practices and ensure employees follow applicable company safety policies and procedures.
• Immediately report unsafe conditions, unsafe behaviors, and work-related injuries to appropriate site leadership.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies

• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Strong knowledge of materials planning, procurement, purchasing, and strategic sourcing.
• Demonstrated supplier negotiation and supplier management skills.
• Strong understanding of MRP/ERP systems and manufacturing planning processes.
• Strong analytical, financial, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to balance customer requirements, material availability, inventory investment, cost, and supply risk.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and make sound business decisions.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence effectively across the organization.
• Knowledge of Lean, 5S, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Cable and wire manufacturing experience preferred.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position is responsible for the oversight, leadership, development, and performance management of employees within the Planning and Procurement functions.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Purchasing, Business Administration, Operations Management, Materials Management, or related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in materials management, supply-chain planning, procurement, purchasing, sourcing, or related functions within a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing employees.
• Experience with MRP/ERP systems and materials planning processes.
• Experience with supplier negotiations, sourcing, supplier development, and supplier performance management.
• Experience with demand planning, forecasting, inventory planning, and supply continuity.
• Manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Wire and cable manufacturing experience preferred.
• CPIM, CSCP, CPSM, or comparable professional certification is a plus.

Physical Demands

• Ability to distinguish colors and pass a colorblind test where required by job responsibilities.
• Ability to use computers and other office equipment requiring finger dexterity and hand/eye coordination.
• Ability to sit for periods of time while working in an office environment.
• Ability to stand and walk throughout the manufacturing facility and related work areas.
• Ability to navigate office, manufacturing, and warehouse environments.
• Ability to bend, stoop, reach, push, and pull as required during occasional plant floor activities.
• Ability to lift, carry, or move materials or supplies up to 30 pounds as required.
• Ability to communicate effectively with employees, suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders by telephone and in person.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment while working in designated manufacturing areas.

Work Environment

This position operates primarily in an office environment with regular interaction with manufacturing, warehouse, and plant floor operations. The employee may be exposed to moving equipment, mechanical operations, noise, fumes, airborne particles, vibration, and other conditions associated with a manufacturing facility. Appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn as required.

Travel

Limited domestic travel may be required for supplier meetings, supplier evaluations, business reviews, training, industry events, or other company related activities.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, responsibilities, or requirements that may be required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice based on business needs.

An Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer

Proterial Cable America provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. As a Federal Contractor, we encourage priority referral of protected veterans under VEVRAA.