Material Management Specialist

Aston Carter•Minneapolis, MN

3d•$140,000 - $165,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a talented Materials Manager to lead inventory management, production planning, logistics coordination, and Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) activities across multiple manufacturing sites. This role acts as the critical link between demand forecasts, material availability, production schedules, and operational execution. The successful candidate will oversee inventory and production control functions, manage production planning resources across multiple plants, and drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on cost savings, productivity, inventory optimization, and on-time delivery performance.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Operations Management, Materials Management, or related field.
5+ years of experience in Production Planning, Inventory Control, Materials Management, Supply Chain, or Manufacturing Operations.
Experience leading production planning or supply chain teams within a manufacturing environment.
Strong understanding of production scheduling, inventory management, capacity planning, demand planning, and Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP).
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, with particular expertise in Excel.
Analytical skills to read, pull data, and present it to large groups.
Willingness to travel periodically to division manufacturing facilities.

Nice To Haves

APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent).
Experience supporting multiple manufacturing plants.
Experience within SAP is preferred.
Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement experience.
leading inventory reduction and cost savings initiatives.
Experience with production control and logistics functions in a discrete manufacturing environment.
Ability to remain calm under pressure.
Strong communication skills to effectively engage with all levels of the organization.
Capability to make recommendations and drive change.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain division-wide production plans and master schedules to support customer demand and business forecasts.
Align manufacturing capacity, labor, material availability, and equipment resources to achieve customer service and inventory objectives.
Coordinate production priorities across multiple manufacturing facilities.
Manage production schedules across weekly, monthly, and long-range planning horizons, resolving scheduling conflicts caused by material shortages, engineering changes, labor constraints, machine availability, and changing business priorities.
Lead all inventory control activities, including inventory strategy, inventory accuracy, records management, and material planning.
Partner closely with Procurement to ensure timely replenishment of raw materials and components.
Drive aggressive inventory optimization and inventory reduction initiatives while maintaining customer service levels.
Monitor inventory performance and adjust stock levels based on changing business conditions and production requirements.
Lead monthly S&OP processes for the division.
Translate sales forecasts into executable production and inventory plans.
Work cross-functionally with Operations, Sales, Procurement, Engineering, and Finance to balance demand and supply requirements.
Direct and mentor Production Control and Logistics (PCL) team members across multiple manufacturing locations.
Provide leadership and guidance to production planning and inventory control personnel.
Foster a collaborative, accountable, and continuous improvement-focused culture.
Identify and implement process improvements that drive cost savings, productivity enhancements, inventory reductions, and service level improvements.
Support Lean Manufacturing initiatives across the division.
Analyze operational data and present recommendations to leadership.
Develop reports and dashboards measuring inventory, production, service, and operational performance.
Analyze trends and provide recommendations to improve planning effectiveness.