Planning & Material Manager

LotusBakeries•Mebane, NC

About The Position

The Planning & Materials Manager is responsible for ensuring the efficient, timely, and cost‑effective flow of materials and resources to support production and operational excellence at the Mebane manufacturing facility. This role leads production, material planning and warehouse & logistics operations, while driving continuous improvement across all related processes. As a key member of the Plant Management Team, the Planning & Materials Manager contributes to overall plant performance, cross‑functional alignment, and the achievement of both short‑term operational targets and long‑term strategic objectives. Planning Management:• Develop, manage, and continuously improve the production planning process for the Mebane plant.• Lead Material Requirements Planning (MRP) to ensure optimal inventory levels and uninterrupted production.• Lead Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) activities and serve as the primary liaison with the Corporate Supply Chain Planning Manager for both tactical and strategic initiatives. Material Management:• Oversee utilities to support continuous operations.• Optimize warehouse and logistics operations to ensure timely and accurate material flow. • Manage inbound, outbound, and internal material movements, including transportation and import/export processes where applicable.• Maintain supplier relationships, contracts, service‑level agreements (SLAs), pricing, and material specifications.• Monitor supplier performance, address non‑conformities, and drive continuous improvement with key partners. Systems, Data & Process Excellence:• Serve as SAP key user for Planning, Procurement, and Warehouse/Logistics modules.• Ensure accuracy and integrity of master data supporting planning, and logistics processes.• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory and quality standards, including BRC, FSMA, FDA, and IFS.• Lead and support traceability exercises and audit readiness activities.• Partner with Quality and Safety teams to investigate deviations, implement corrective actions, and prevent recurrence.• Leverage data, KPIs, and root-cause analysis to drive performance improvements and informed decision-making. Leadership:• Lead, coach, and develop direct reports, including the Material & Production Planners, Logistics & Warehouse Supervisor & Plant Management Support Administrator• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.• Actively participate as a member of the Plant Management Team, contributing to strategic decision-making and overall plant performance improvement.Lotus Bakeries is looking for an agile, integer, collaborative and passionate manager who is excited to join a dynamic plant that is expected to double its capacity in the coming years.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Logistics, or a related field.
Minimum of 5 years of experience in production planning, material planning, and logistics within a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated experience with MRP and S&OP processes.
Proficiency in SAP (Planning, Procurement, Warehouse/Logistics modules).
Advanced Excel and data analysis skills; experience with planning and reporting tools.
Ownership & Accountability: Takes full responsibility for outcomes and ensures alignment with plant and company objectives.
People Leadership: Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop supervisors and mid‑sized teams of hourly and salaried employees.
Continuous Improvement Mindset: Proactively identifies inefficiencies and drives sustainable process improvements.
Strategic Agility: Balances day‑to‑day operational execution with long‑term planning and capability development in a strong growth environment.
Communication & Influence: Communicates clearly and effectively, influencing stakeholders at all levels to uphold standards and achieve results.

Responsibilities

Develop, manage, and continuously improve the production planning process for the Mebane plant.
Lead Material Requirements Planning (MRP) to ensure optimal inventory levels and uninterrupted production.
Lead Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) activities and serve as the primary liaison with the Corporate Supply Chain Planning Manager for both tactical and strategic initiatives.
Oversee utilities to support continuous operations.
Optimize warehouse and logistics operations to ensure timely and accurate material flow.
Manage inbound, outbound, and internal material movements, including transportation and import/export processes where applicable.
Maintain supplier relationships, contracts, service‑level agreements (SLAs), pricing, and material specifications.
Monitor supplier performance, address non‑conformities, and drive continuous improvement with key partners.
Serve as SAP key user for Planning, Procurement, and Warehouse/Logistics modules.
Ensure accuracy and integrity of master data supporting planning, and logistics processes.
Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory and quality standards, including BRC, FSMA, FDA, and IFS.
Lead and support traceability exercises and audit readiness activities.
Partner with Quality and Safety teams to investigate deviations, implement corrective actions, and prevent recurrence.
Leverage data, KPIs, and root-cause analysis to drive performance improvements and informed decision-making.
Lead, coach, and develop direct reports, including the Material & Production Planners, Logistics & Warehouse Supervisor & Plant Management Support Administrator
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Actively participate as a member of the Plant Management Team, contributing to strategic decision-making and overall plant performance improvement.