Materials & Logistics Manager

Air Lift Company•Lansing, MI

16d

About The Position

Air Lift is seeking a Materials & Logistics Manager to lead regional and global materials planning, inventory management, and inbound and outbound logistics. The role ensures product availability while pursuing the lowest sustainable total landed cost. The manager will develop and execute practical strategies supporting company growth, new product launches, supply continuity, service performance, and working capital objectives. The position owns materials requirements planning (MRP), replenishment, production support, inventory strategies, and ERP/MRP planning effectiveness across domestic and international supply channels. It also develops logistics strategies and oversees freight partners, customs brokers, cross-border execution, and trade compliance in coordination with internal and external specialists. The manager leads materials and logistics readiness for product launches, engineering changes, supplier transitions, and regional sourcing changes, working closely with Purchasing, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and suppliers. The role also leads and develops the materials/logistics team, establishes accountability and standard work, drives continuous improvement, monitors performance, and personally resolves critical supply and shipment issues.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, operations, logistics, business, or equivalent relevant experience.
Proven materials management, inventory/MRP, and transportation/logistics experience in manufacturing or a complex product environment.
Working knowledge of domestic and international freight, carriers/forwarders, import/export processes, and total landed cost.
Demonstrated advanced, hands-on ERP/MRP proficiency, including independent management of item master data, BOMs, lead times, safety stock, reorder points, planning parameters, inventory accuracy, MRP exceptions, and reporting; ability to diagnose system/data issues and lead ERP process improvements. Prior practical ownership, not just ERP user exposure, is required.
Strong analytical and financial judgment; ability to lead teams and support production schedules, engineering changes, launches, and inventory risk.
Domestic and occasional international travel as business needs require.

Nice To Haves

CPIM, CSCP, CLTD, or similar certification.
Lean/Six Sigma experience.
Experience with SIOP, global sourcing networks, cross-border logistics, and manufacturing quality systems.

Responsibilities

Own materials requirements planning (MRP), replenishment, production support, and inventory strategies across domestic and international supply channels.
Own ERP/MRP planning effectiveness, including item master data, BOM accuracy, lead times, safety stock, reorder points, and inventory transactions.
Lead ERP-driven improvements and reporting to improve planning accuracy, inventory visibility, exception management, and decision-making across regional and global operations.
Improve inventory turns, accuracy, order fill, and working capital while protecting service and production continuity.
Drive SIOP, demand changes, capacity constraints, and supplier recovery planning.
Develop and execute regional and global inbound and outbound logistics strategies across North America, Mexico, Asia, Europe, and other active sourcing regions.
Optimize freight modes, lanes, shipment consolidation, container utilization, carrier/forwarder performance, and warehouse-to-customer material flow.
Manage freight partners, customs brokers, import/export documentation, cross-border execution, and trade compliance in coordination with internal and external specialists.
Reduce total landed cost, premium freight, transit variability, and logistics risks while maintaining material availability and delivery reliability.
Own materials and logistics readiness for NPD, product launches, engineering changes, supplier transitions, and regional sourcing changes.
Coordinate inventory runout, phase-in/phase-out plans, lead times, shipment schedules, and contingency plans to avoid shortages and obsolescence.
Partner with Purchasing, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and suppliers on cost, timing, delivery, and risk.
Translate Air Lift supply chain priorities into executable materials and logistics plans; identify regional and global opportunities for cost, service, and resilience.
Lead and develop the materials/logistics team; establish accountability, standard work, root-cause problem solving, and continuous improvement.
Track and improve inventory accuracy, turns, days of supply, fill rate, supplier/carrier on-time delivery, freight spend, premium freight, and landed cost.
Remain a hands-on manager who resolves critical supply and shipment issues promptly and communicates risks with clear recovery actions.