Material Control Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Description

Position Summary

The Materials Control Specialist is a senior-level Materials Control position responsible for executing and supporting complex material flow activities across receiving, shipping, inventory control, material staging, internal movement, raw material control, remnant management, and production support.

The Materials Control Specialist operates with a high degree of independence and is expected to resolve routine material discrepancies, support ERP transaction accuracy, maintain traceability, coordinate material readiness, and assist in training and guiding Materials Control Coordinators. This role serves as an experienced resource within the Materials Control team and helps ensure that material moves accurately and efficiently from receipt through production and final shipment.

The role is intended to provide advanced functional capability within Materials Control, strengthen problem-solving at the working level, and reduce the need for routine material flow and transaction issues to be escalated to the Materials Control Supervisor.

Key Responsibilities

1. Advanced Materials Control Execution

Perform receiving, shipping, staging, material movement, inventory control, and production support activities as required

Independently process more complex material transactions and resolve routine ERP, inventory, or material identification discrepancies

Verify material identification, quantities, locations, job requirements, and associated documentation before material movement or processing

Support accurate material issue, transfer, return, and completion transactions

Ensure physical material condition and location remain consistent with system records

2. Material Readiness & Production Support

Review production priorities and assist in ensuring required material is located, prepared, and staged for scheduled operations

Identify jobs at risk due to missing material, incomplete preparation, location discrepancies, or other material constraints

Coordinate with Production Control and the Materials Control Supervisor to resolve material readiness issues

Support urgent production needs, recovery activities, and shipment-critical priorities

Assist production personnel in locating and resolving material-related issues while maintaining proper transaction and traceability discipline

3. Receiving & Traceability

Receive raw material, purchased components, outside processed product, and other incoming items in accordance with established procedures

Verify purchase order information, quantity, material identification, heat or lot information, and required documentation

Ensure material certifications and traceability information are properly maintained and associated with the correct material

Identify discrepancies in documentation, identification, quantity, or condition and escalate as appropriate

Coordinate with Quality, Purchasing, or the Materials Control Supervisor when receiving issues require additional review

4. Shipping Execution

Prepare customer shipments in accordance with job, customer, quality, packaging, and documentation requirements

Verify part numbers, revisions, quantities, destination, packaging instructions, and required shipping documentation

Complete required ERP shipping transactions accurately and timely

Support customer-specific packaging, labeling, source inspection, and shipment documentation requirements

Identify and resolve routine shipment discrepancies before product leaves the facility

5. Inventory, Staging & Remnant Control

Maintain accurate storage locations and material identification throughout assigned areas

Perform cycle counts, inventory verification, and discrepancy investigation

Support accurate control of raw stock, remnants, staged material, and assigned work-in-process locations

Ensure usable remnants are properly identified, traceable, stored, and transacted

Investigate misplaced, unidentified, incorrectly transacted, or quantity-discrepant material and support corrective action

6. Team Support & Training

Serve as an experienced functional resource for Materials Control Coordinators and other assigned personnel

Assist with onboarding, cross-training, ERP transaction training, and standard work development

Reinforce proper receiving, shipping, staging, traceability, inventory, and material handling practices

Provide feedback to the Materials Control Supervisor regarding recurring process issues, training needs, or performance concerns

Provide coverage across Materials Control functions based on operational need

7. Continuous Improvement & Process Discipline

Identify recurring transaction errors, material movement delays, inventory issues, or unnecessary handling

Recommend improvements to storage, staging, labeling, transaction flow, and material handling practices

Support implementation of standardized work and visual controls

Maintain orderly, safe, and disciplined material storage and handling areas

Support physical inventory, audit, and continuous improvement activities as assigned

Execution Authority

The Materials Control Specialist is authorized to:

Perform approved Materials Control ERP transactions within assigned responsibilities

Prioritize routine material activities in alignment with direction from the Materials Control Supervisor and Production Control

Resolve routine material location, transaction, quantity, and documentation discrepancies

Provide work guidance and training to Materials Control Coordinators

Stop movement of material when identification, traceability, quantity, condition, or documentation appears incorrect

Escalate material shortages, inventory discrepancies, shipment risks, or traceability concerns

The Materials Control Specialist does not have authority to:

Independently change production schedule priorities

Commit delivery dates to customers

Substitute material, specifications, or material conditions without appropriate approval

Disposition nonconforming material

Change controlled manufacturing or inspection requirements

Make purchasing commitments outside established authority

Exercise formal disciplinary authority unless specifically delegated

Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent required; technical coursework or associate's degree preferred

Materials Control Specialist Job Description

3+ years of experience in materials, inventory control, shipping and receiving, warehouse operations, or manufacturing support preferred

Experience in aerospace, defense, precision machining, or regulated manufacturing environments preferred

Strong working knowledge of ERP/MRP inventory and material transactions

Understanding of material identification, lot and heat traceability, inventory locations, and controlled material movement

Experience with shipping and receiving documentation and processes

Ability to read basic engineering drawings, purchase orders, job travelers, material specifications, and production documentation

Strong organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills

Ability to safely operate material handling equipment as required by the position

Ability to work effectively in a high-mix, schedule-driven manufacturing environment

Physical Requirements

Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the workday

Ability to frequently bend, stoop, squat, kneel, reach, and perform physical material handling activities

Ability to safely climb and work from ladders as required to access material storage locations and perform inventory or material handling activities

Ability to routinely lift, carry, position, or move items weighing up to 50 pounds

Ability to handle heavier materials through the appropriate use of forklifts, cranes, hoists, pallet jacks, carts, team lifting, or other approved material handling equipment

Ability to push and pull carts, pallet jacks, containers, and other material handling devices

Ability to handle, position, count, label, package, stage, and inspect raw material, work-in-process, and finished product

Ability to safely operate forklifts, pallet jacks, cranes, hoists, or other material handling equipment when trained and authorized

Ability to visually read material markings, heat and lot identification, labels, job documentation, computer screens, and shipping and receiving documentation

Ability to perform repetitive scanning, labeling, packaging, counting, and material handling activities

Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation

Work Environment

Work is primarily performed in manufacturing, warehouse, receiving, shipping, raw material storage, and production environments

Regular exposure to manufacturing noise, forklifts, cranes, moving machinery, material handling equipment, and production traffic

May be exposed to metal stock, sharp edges, oils, coolants, cutting fluids, dust, chips, and other conditions typical of a precision manufacturing environment

May be exposed to temperature variations associated with loading docks, shipping and receiving areas, raw material storage, and manufacturing areas

Work may require access to elevated storage locations using approved ladders

Required to wear applicable personal protective equipment and comply with all site safety and material handling requirements

This position involves access to export-controlled information and/or items. To be eligible, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must be able to perform all job duties in compliance with U.S. export control laws and regulations without current or future employer-sponsored export authorization.

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities and qualifications associated with this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or working conditions. Responsibilities and duties may change at any time based on business needs, and the employee may be required to perform other tasks as assigned.