Logistics Operations Director Jobs in Riceville, TN

Plant Supply Chain Manager

Division: Americas Department: Supply Chain Location: Dayton, TN Date: January 2025

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Position Summary

The Plant Supply Chain Manager is a key member of the Site Leadership Team and is responsible for leading all plant-level supply chain and logistics operations to maximize manufacturing efficiency, minimize cost, drive quality, and ensure on-time delivery of materials and finished goods. This role has full site responsibility for production control, demand planning, manufacturing scheduling, procurement, inventory management, vendor qualification, and inbound and outbound logistics. The position plays a critical role in driving safety, quality, operational excellence, and continuous improvement across the facility.

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Principal Accountabilities

Responsible for the overall performance and success of the plant's supply chain operations.

Lead, develop, and mentor the plant supply chain team, including demand planning, order fulfillment, production scheduling, purchasing, materials management, warehouse operations, and logistics.

Partner with Operations to develop manufacturing schedules and capacity plans aligned with sales forecasts and customer demand.

Maintain accurate inventories of materials and supplies across the plant and supporting sites while ensuring optimal inventory levels to support production.

Analyze inventory trends and replenishment processes to improve material availability, inventory turns, and cost performance.

Direct all plant purchasing activities, including competitive sourcing of raw materials, MRO items, and service contracts.

Collaborate with corporate and divisional procurement teams, and partner with Engineering and Quality on supplier assessments, approvals, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Manage third-party logistics providers and oversee all inbound and outbound logistics, including freight sourcing, cost management, and on-time delivery.

Oversee warehouse management, material flow, and inventory movement within the plant.

Develop and manage departmental budgets, ensuring strong financial controls, cost discipline, and efficient use of resources.

Actively participate in new product introductions, engineering changes, and product launches to ensure smooth material transitions and the lowest landed cost.

Establish, track, and report supply chain performance metrics, including production completion, inventory accuracy, inventory turns, PPV, vendor performance, cost, and service levels.

Lead root cause analysis and problem-solving efforts for supply chain issues, ensuring robust documentation and sustainable corrective actions.

Drive continuous improvement initiatives aligned with Lean Manufacturing and Operational Excellence strategies.

Support environmental and sustainability initiatives, including sourcing environmentally friendly materials and reducing waste streams.

Manage excess and obsolete inventory and plant assets in coordination with Accounting and Site Leadership.

Collaborate cross-functionally with plant, regional, and global teams to support strategic initiatives and supply chain excellence.

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Nature and Scope

The Plant Supply Chain Manager is a staff-level position reporting directly to the Site or Plant Manager, with a matrix or dotted-line reporting relationship to Corporate or Regional Supply Chain leadership. The role has full accountability for plant supply chain and logistics functions, including procurement, production control, scheduling, inventory, shipping, receiving, and order fulfillment. This position leads managers, supervisors, and individual contributors and collaborates across plant, regional, and global supply chain organizations.

Required Knowledge and Skills

Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Business Management, Engineering, or a related field; master's degree preferred.

Minimum of seven years of supply chain experience, including three to four years in a management role within a plant manufacturing environment.

Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, with the ability to lead change in a cross-functional, matrix organization.

Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, and operational efficiency.

Proven skills in negotiation, influence management, and conflict resolution.

Strong organizational and planning skills, including experience with demand forecasting, S&OP, and manufacturing scheduling.

Solid project management capabilities with a track record of delivering results on time and within budget.

Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, cost control, capital planning, and financial analysis.

Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to synthesize data and drive decisive action.

Experience with Lean Manufacturing, process control, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Thorough knowledge of manufacturing supply chain operations, including purchasing, materials management, and logistics.

Proficiency in MS Office and ERP/MRP systems (SAP preferred), with working knowledge of transportation management systems.

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Working Conditions

The position is primarily office-based with regular interaction on the production floor. Physical requirements include standing and walking up to 25% of the time, occasionally lifting 30 pounds, and traveling up to 10%. The role involves exposure to typical manufacturing conditions, including elevated noise levels, temperature fluctuations, and intermittent outdoor conditions. The standard work schedule is Monday through Friday, with availability required to support all operating shifts as needed.