Material Operations Manager- Indy
About The Position
Steel & O’Brien Manufacturing is seeking a hands-on Materials Operations & Production Control Manager to support its new Indianapolis facility serving the Data Center Cooling industry. Reporting to the Operations Director, the manager will coordinate production schedules, work orders, raw materials, and purchasing activities to help meet customer commitments. The role will establish reliable processes, develop team members, and work across Production, Purchasing, Warehouse, Engineering, and Quality to support the facility’s startup and continued growth. The position is performed on-site in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Regular, consistent attendance is mandatory. The role involves approximately 5–10% travel to other locations. Essential functions may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.
Requirements
- Associate degree in Business or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- At least five years of experience in production planning, scheduling, materials management, or a related area.
- At least two years of leadership experience.
- Strong organizational and analytical skills, with close attention to detail.
- Proactive approach to problem-solving, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
- Clear, professional communication skills and ability to build effective working relationships across departments.
- Ability to manage changing priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ERP systems.
- Regular, consistent attendance is mandatory.
- Ability to perform duties involving extended periods of standing and walking, occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds, and reaching, bending, stooping, twisting, kneeling, crouching, and using stairs.
Nice To Haves
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or other Dynamics 365 ERP experience.
- Lean Manufacturing experience.
- Facility startup or production ramp-up experience.
Responsibilities
- Help establish materials planning, production control, and scheduling processes as the Indianapolis facility launches and expands.
- Manage production work orders from creation through completion, including updates, communication, follow-up, and status tracking.
- Develop and maintain production schedules with the Production Manager, aligning priorities with material availability, capacity, and customer delivery requirements.
- Review contract specifications, drawings, sales orders, and project documents to understand production and material needs.
- Allocate materials to job orders, oversee raw material and tubing inventory, and purchase production materials in coordination with Purchasing.
- Monitor and expedite purchase orders that support open sales orders; communicate shortages, delays, and recovery plans.
- Support ERP implementation, maintenance, and process improvements to keep work order, inventory, and scheduling information accurate.
- Lead and develop assigned team members by setting clear expectations and priorities.
- Coordinate with production expediting and assembly teams to keep work on schedule.
- Establish responsive internal customer support processes so teams can provide accurate information to external customers.
- Track schedule performance, material shortages, and work order status; identify root causes and implement improvements.
- Work across departments to resolve issues, improve material flow, and support on-time delivery.
- Champion safety, ethical conduct, and company values.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Benefits
- Salary range of $85,000–$105,000.
- 5% quarterly bonus.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
Associate degree
