Materials Manager

STEEL WAREHOUSE CO LLC•South Bend, IN

11d

About The Position

The SB Unit Materials Manager is responsible for the full lifecycle management of inventory within an assigned gauge/product range, including receiving quality, inventory accuracy, supplier (mill) performance, and cross-functional coordination with Sales, Quality, and Operations. This role combines traditional materials/inventory management with data-driven analysis and continuous improvement, driving proactive, upstream corrective actions rather than reactive inspection responses.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree preferred (Business, Supply Chain, Operations, or related field); equivalent experience considered
Minimum of 3-5 years’ sales and/or steel material experience required within the steel service center spectrum
Experience with inventory management and/or ERP systems
Working knowledge of data analysis/reporting tools (e.g., Excel, Power BI) preferred
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; root-cause analysis experience a plus
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including cross-communication between all departments and locations in all Steel Warehouse locations.
Positive Team attitude. Always be part of the Solution & work with anyone needing assistance
Proactive approach to problem identification and resolution
Familiarity with continuous improvement / Lean Six Sigma principles a plus

Responsibilities

Must be proactive in situations to stop them before they become issues. Ask for assistance from Department Manager of needed
Review material “on hold” from previous date(s) and collaborate with the sales team to make the best decision/risk analysis
Review unplanned/planned material returned to inventory from operational processes to determine the best next step/risk scenario
Provide timely responses to material inquiries from the sales force to maximize business opportunities
Partner with mill technical representatives on quality/surface identification, root-cause analysis, and improvement concepts
Track, analyze, and review “On/Off Claim at Receiving” defect rates by supplier mill; identify systemic packaging, banding, or handling failure modes (e.g., oscillation, loose wraps, telescoping) and help drive corrective action plans
Manage daily master contract bucket changes and analyze high/low inventory ratios to make sure we are in line
Bring any discrepancies found to the ISR, OSR, and Commercial Manager if needed to find out what the problem is.
Manage sales backlogs daily in a timely manner to meet sales expectations and customer demands
Review and maximize profit-and-loss (P&L) performance from previous orders to understand and enhance profitability margins
Manage “Aged Inventory”, identifying how material can meet other applications and sales opportunities, and come up with ideas to implement using this aged material to the Department Manager
Maintain inventory accuracy through reconciliation, and ERP system data integrity
Coordinate with Purchasing on supplier/mill relationships, scorecards, and expedite processes
Review all daily reports you receive, and act on them, including opportunities on Call Reports from the Outside Sales Department
Ensure compliance with departmental SOPs, quality protocols, and applicable regulatory/customer requirements
Promote and maintain a safe working environment in accordance with company safety standards
Be involved in special projects from Material Department Manager
Perform other duties as assigned