Materials & Planning Manager

Targetti USA•Costa Mesa, CA

About The Position

The Materials & Planning Manager is responsible for leading materials management, production planning, scheduling, and ERP/MRP planning activities to support customer delivery commitments and operational performance. This position uses advanced planning and decision-support systems, such as SAP, Oracle, or comparable Tier 1 ERP platforms, to balance customer demand, material availability, production capacity, inventory, and lead times. The ideal candidate has extensive manufacturing planning and materials management experience, strong ERP/MRP expertise (SAP), and demonstrated leadership or supervisory experience. This role works cross-functionally with Production, Customer Service, Quality, and other departments to maintain accurate production plans, resolve constraints, and drive continuous improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, operations management, business, engineering, or related field
APICS CPIM or CSCP Certification
7–10 years of progressive experience in production planning, materials management, supply chain, procurement, manufacturing operations, or a related field.
Advanced experience implementing, improving, using, analyzing, and reporting Tier 1 ERP/MRP and decision-support systems, such as SAP, Oracle, or comparable enterprise platforms. (Strong experience with SAP preferred.)
Master level production planning, MRP, materials management, inventory control, capacity planning, and manufacturing process experience.
Experience managing production schedules, material requirements, work orders, inventory, and customer delivery commitments.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret ERP/MRP data and translate planning information into operational decisions.
Experience with lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or related operational improvement methodologies.
Expert level Microsoft Excel capabilities and MS Dynamics and Power BI
Strong inventory record accuracy, optimization and data analysis capabilities
Demonstrated leadership experience within a manufacturing or operations environment.
Expert level negotiation and supplier management skills
Actively listens and communicates concisely and clearly
Coaches team members by providing actionable feedback
Holds self and others accountable for exceptional service delivery
Brings a positive, can-do attitude
Candidates are required to undergo a background check.
Candidates must have legal authorization to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

5+ years of building, leading, and developing teams.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and direction across materials management, procurement, planning, and scheduling activities.
Set priorities for the Scheduling & Planning, Materials, and Procurement Teams that align with Sales, Inside Sales Quality, Production and other departments.
Serve as an escalation point for complex scheduling, material availability, and production planning issues.
Resolve escalated issues, remove obstacles, and manage internal or cross-functional conflicts constructively.
Support the development and implementation of standardized planning processes, procedures, and best practices.
Provide training, guidance, and mentorship to employees involved in production planning, scheduling, materials management, and ERP/MRP processes.
Conduct performance evaluations and provide guidance, setting clear expectations and fostering accountability throughout their team.
Lead materials planning activities to ensure adequate material availability while supporting inventory and working-capital objectives.
Collaborate with Purchasing, Inventory, Production, and other departments to resolve material exceptions and maintain production continuity.
Monitor material requirements and supplier lead times to identify potential risks before they affect production or customer commitments.
Support efficient material flow and inventory utilization to minimize production interruptions.
Identify and resolve planning, inventory, or transactional issues affecting material availability and inventory accuracy.
Recommend adjustments to planning parameters, safety stock, order quantities, and inventory strategies based on demand and operational requirements.
Monitor progress and adjust schedules as needed to address changing priorities or material constraints.
Identify production bottlenecks and recommend schedule adjustments to maintain workflow and on-time delivery.
Support continuous improvement initiatives in manufacturing performance, workflow efficiency, quality, and customer service standards.
Utilize ERP/MRP planning outputs to identify material shortages, excess inventory, obsolete or slow-moving materials, and supply risks.
Ensure production schedules within the ERP/MRP planning systems are developed, analyzed, and maintained to balance customer demand, material availability, capacity constraints, and delivery commitments.
Maintain and optimize ERP/MRP planning parameters, including lead times, planning policies, safety stock levels, order quantities, routings, and Bills of Material (BOMs).
Generate and analyze ERP/MRP reports to evaluate capacity utilization, schedule attainment, inventory performance, material availability, and delivery metrics.
Monitor production schedules, work order status, inventory levels, and planning KPIs to support on-time delivery.
Analyze production, inventory, and planning data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities to improve planning accuracy.
Identify and lead continuous improvement initiatives related to planning processes, material flow, inventory management, system utilization, and operational efficiency.
Support ERP/MRP process improvements and implementation of planning best practices across the organization.
Provide oversight to source raw materials, components, and parts.
Oversee and negotiate pricing, contracts, and lead times.
Evaluate and develop suppliers to ensure product quality is high and deliveries are on time.
Approve and review purchase orders and follow-ups.
Calculate production, quality inspection, and packing timelines to establish accurate Estimated Ship Dates (ESDs).
Review ERP/MRP material requirements, inventory availability, capacity, and lead times to determine achievable delivery dates.
Develop contingency plans for production delays, supplier lead-time changes, material shortages, or capacity constraints.
Maintain accurate ESDs within the ERP/MRP system by continuously monitoring material availability, production capacity, and schedule adherence.
Proactively communicate ESD changes, risks, and schedule updates to Regional Sales Team, Inside Sales/Customer Service, and other internal stakeholders.
Monitor, release, and manage production work orders within the ERP/MRP system to ensure accurate scheduling, timely processing, and delivery performance.
Maintain planning system integrity by ensuring work order, routing, scheduling, and related planning information is accurate and current.
Release and track sample orders to support customer and sales requirements.
Investigate and correct improperly processed or closed work orders to maintain system and inventory accuracy.
Ensure work orders are appropriately prioritized based on customer requirements, material availability, and production capacity.
Reduce material, transportation, and storage costs.
Monitor material usage and waste.
Support budgeting and cost-saving initiatives.
Maintain accurate ERP/MRP data: BOMs, lead times, min/max levels.
Analyze material performance KPIs (inventory turns, supplier OTIF, etc.).
Improve processes through lean or continuous improvement methods.
Perform additional tasks as needed to support planning, scheduling, materials, purchasing, logistics, and production workflows.

Benefits

Health insurance
Paid time off
Vision insurance
401(k)
401(k) matching
Dental insurance
Life Insurance (paid by Targetti) with option to purchase additional coverage
Additional Health Resources through United Healthcare (fees may apply)
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) option for healthcare and dependent care expenses
401(k) Profit Sharing Plan with match
Professional Development