Supply Chain & Materials Operations Manager
Location: Marietta, Ohio
Job Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire
Pay: Starting at $95,000/year (higher compensation available based on experience)
Travel: Up to 20%
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Supply Chain & Materials Operations Manager to lead material planning, purchasing, inventory management, and supplier performance for a manufacturing operation that supports both quick-turn and custom-built projects.
This hands-on leadership role combines strategic supply chain planning with daily operational execution. The ideal candidate will be comfortable leading a Buyer/Planner team, collaborating across departments, and developing supply chain strategies that keep production moving while optimizing inventory investment.
What You'll Do
Team Leadership
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Buyer Planners.
Assign workloads and balance responsibilities across projects and commodities.
Conduct coaching sessions, performance reviews, and KPI tracking.
Support employee development through training and cross-functional exposure.
Ensure continuity of purchasing and planning activities during absences.
Materials Planning & Production Support
Coordinate material plans with project schedules and production requirements.
Review Bills of Materials (BOMs) and identify long-lead components early in the project lifecycle.
Lead material shortage escalations and coordinate corrective actions across departments.
Monitor project priorities to maintain production schedules and customer delivery commitments.
Support both configure-to-order and engineered-to-order manufacturing environments.
Sales & Demand Planning
Partner with Sales during quoting activities to provide realistic material lead times.
Participate in Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning (SIOP).
Monitor demand trends and proactively position critical materials.
Support customer stocking programs and inventory agreements.
Strategic Supply Chain Management
Develop inventory strategies for critical and long-lead components.
Identify sourcing risks and implement mitigation strategies such as dual sourcing, safety stock, supplier-managed inventory, and long-term agreements.
Support commodity planning and make-versus-buy evaluations.
Monitor market conditions including pricing, tariffs, supply disruptions, and commodity availability.
Inventory Management
Oversee inventory accuracy, working capital, and inventory health.
Drive improvements in inventory turns while maintaining production readiness.
Lead excess and obsolete inventory reviews and disposition planning.
Manage safety stock policies, reorder parameters, cycle counts, and annual physical inventories.
Balance inventory investment with operational requirements.
Supplier Performance
Manage supplier delivery, quality, responsiveness, and lead-time performance.
Conduct supplier business reviews and oversee improvement initiatives.
Partner with Quality on Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs).
Support supplier qualification and development activities.
Negotiate pricing agreements, blanket purchase orders, and long-term supplier contracts.
ERP / MRP Leadership
Maintain accurate ERP/MRP planning data including item masters, BOMs, supplier lead times, and planning parameters.
Ensure purchasing and planning activities are executed through the ERP system.
Identify planning issues and improve system effectiveness.
Partner with IT on ERP enhancements and reporting improvements.
Reporting & Continuous Improvement
Prepare weekly and monthly supply chain performance reports.
Track KPIs related to inventory, supplier performance, shortages, and material availability.
Lead Lean and continuous improvement initiatives focused on inventory optimization, warehouse efficiency, and planning accuracy.
Support 5S, process improvements, and operational excellence initiatives.
Key Performance Indicators
Success in this role will be measured by metrics including:
Inventory Turns (goal: 10+ annually)
Material Availability
Supplier On-Time Delivery
Purchase Price Variance
Excess & Obsolete Inventory Reduction
Production Downtime Due to Material Shortages
Supplier Quality Performance
Strategic Inventory Readiness
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).
7-10+ years of progressive supply chain experience in manufacturing.
Minimum of 3 years leading buyers, planners, or purchasing teams.
Experience supporting industrial, electrical, electromechanical, or similar manufacturing environments.
Advanced knowledge of ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Epicor, Infor, IFS, or similar.
Strong experience improving inventory performance while maintaining production support.
Background managing supplier performance programs including QBRs and SCARs.
Demonstrated ability to lead both day-to-day operations and long-term supply chain strategy.
Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership skills.
Advanced Microsoft Excel and data analysis skills.
Preferred Qualifications
APICS CPIM or CSCP certification.
ISM C.P.M. or CPSM certification.
Experience with power distribution equipment or similar industrial products.
Knowledge of UL, ANSI, NEMA, NEC, or IEC standards.
Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification.
Experience with Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), consignment programs, or blanket purchase agreements.
International sourcing, customs, or import compliance experience.
Core Skills
Supply Chain Leadership
Inventory Optimization
ERP/MRP Planning
Purchasing & Procurement
Supplier Relationship Management
Strategic Sourcing
Demand Planning
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Risk Management
Data Analysis & Reporting
Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement
Executive Communication
Work Environment
This is a fully on-site position within a manufacturing facility.
Daily interaction with production, warehouse, and receiving operations is expected.
Travel up to 20% for supplier visits, sourcing activities, and industry events.
Occasional availability outside normal business hours may be needed to resolve critical supply chain issues.
Ability to walk the manufacturing floor and participate in inventory activities is required.