Senior Materials Manager (Air & Electromechanical Control)

GE Aerospace • Rockford Township, IL

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Materials Manager (Air & Electromechanical Control) role in Loves Park is responsible for leading site internal end-to-end materials management and production control to support business objectives, with a primary focus on strengthening the Sale and Operations Planning (S&OP) process, optimizing inventory, improvement customer on-time delivery and enabling business unit transformation plans. This role partners closely with Operations, Finance, Commercial, Engineering and Program teams to ensure material availability, mitigate risk, and drive sustained improvements in service, cost, and working capital.

In this role, you will lead a team of materials professionals, partner closely with Operations, Sourcing, Engineering, and Program teams (6 salaried direct reports and 20-25 hourly indirect reports), and drive continuous improvement in material flow, on-time delivery, and inventory performance for both production and new product/program introductions.

GE Aerospace in Loves Park, IL, focuses on the design and manufacturing of advanced aviation systems and components. This includes electrical power systems, actuation, pneumatic components, and participle separator systems for both military and civil aircraft. The facility also houses a world-class pneumatics laboratory for testing high-precision components like engine pneumatic valves and starter systems.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Business, Engineering, or related field from an accredited university or college
• A minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in a supply chain role
• A minimum of 2 years of direct people leadership experience
• This position requires U.S. citizenship status.
• Ability and willingness to sit onsite at the facility in Loves Park, IL

Nice To Haves

• 10 years of experience in operations managing material flow and fulfillment, Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) and/or Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) process, supplier relations and production control planning
• APICS Certified and/or Supply Chain advanced degree
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and resolve problems
• Demonstrated ability to lead programs / projects
• Ability to document, plan, market, and execute programs

Responsibilities

• Lead internal end-to-end materials planning for Air & Electromechanical Controls to support the master production schedule and customer demand
• Lead supply-side SOP process, which includes capacity assessment, constraint management, level loading, and risk awareness/mitigation
• Ensure material availability to meet Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC) objectives
• Own and maintain MRP health, including lead times, safety stocks, lot sizes, and planning parameters
• Monitor and drive on-time delivery performance manufactured components
• Coordinate with internal and external suppliers to resolve shortages, expedite critical parts, and mitigate supply risk via lean problem-solving methods
• Develop and execute inventory strategies balancing availability with working capital targets
• Manage and improve inventory metrics, including inventory turns, excess and obsolete (E&O), and slow-moving stock
• Drive high inventory accuracy through robust cycle counting and reconciliation processes
• Optimize material flow from receiving to point-of-use, including kitting, staging, and material presentation
• Implement and sustain lean material systems such as pull, kanban, supermarkets, and standard work for material handling
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of materials planners, analysts, and/or material coordinators
• Set clear goals and expectations aligned with SQDC and site business priorities
• Provide regular performance feedback and support training, development, and succession planning
• Foster a culture of respect, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Partner with Operations to align materials plans with capacity and production schedules
• Collaborate with Sourcing to address supplier performance, capacity constraints, and long-lead strategies
• Work with Engineering and Program teams to manage new product introductions and configuration changes
• Coordinate implementation of engineering changes (ECO/ECR) and obsolescence plans with minimal disruption
• Support customer meetings, internal reviews, and audits related to material readiness and performance
• Identify and execute continuous improvement projects in planning, scheduling, and material flow
• Use data and problem-solving methods to address root causes of shortages, excess inventory, and planning errors
• Promote and deploy lean tools and digital solutions to improve visibility, forecast accuracy, and responsiveness
• Standardize best practices and document standard work for materials processes
• Ensure compliance with GE Aerospace policies, procedures, and applicable regulatory and export control requirements
• Support adherence to all safety, quality, and housekeeping standards within materials operations
• Develop and maintain standard reports and dashboards for materials-related KPIs and risk visibility
• Communicate materials performance, risks, and recovery plans to site and business leadership

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance that begins on the first day of employment
• Permissive time off policy for newly hired employees
• Generous 401(k) plan
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Life insurance and disability coverage

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level