Automotive Manufacturing Materials Manager

Job Overview:

Key Responsibilities

• Overall responsibility for all material and production planning, including inventory management activities within the facility.
• Create and implement best practice material planning and inventory management vision, strategy, policies, processes, and procedures, to aid and improve operational performance.
• Review opportunities to improve operational and financial performance and ensure minimal operational disruption and maximum customer satisfaction.
• Contribute to overall business strategy and annual budget process.
• Manage and update material and production planning and inventory management policies, procedures, guidelines, and all associated documents.
• Oversee and manage inventory integrity and identify opportunities to reduce inventory levels.
• Ensure IT systems in place are effective, accurate, and maintained; review opportunities to standardize and streamline IT systems utilizing current or new systems.
• Ensure plans, schedules, and performance metrics are accurate and readily available for timely reporting to all appropriate business partners.
• Provide leadership to Materials department; coach and develop direct reports and manage high performing teams that deliver continuous improvement, added value, and cost reductions.
• Set department objectives and monitor ongoing progress and performance.
• Ensure all functions within scope of responsibility operate in accordance with health, safety, and environmental policies and procedures to ensure the safety of all team members and visitors.
• Complete performance reviews, manage attendance, holidays, disciplinary issues, and procedures as appropriate.
• Establish strategy and best practices for staff to ensure achievement of overall business objectives.
• Partner with the senior management team to translate strategy into specific annual performance goals and departmental objectives, which include the development and tracking of KPIs.
• Prepare the annual material/production planning and inventory budget and forecasts, as well as ensure compliance with customer and legal requirements; manage the budget from identification to completion of projects.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, partnering with stakeholders to ensure material/production planning and inventory management objectives are being met.
• Contribute to new business initiatives and projects and review and communicate the impact on material/production planning and inventory management activities.
• Ensure performance of suppliers, logistics partners, transportation companies and identify and implement improvements and cost savings where possible.
• Ensure on time, high quality delivery to all customers.
• Maintain excellent relationships with customers and monitor performance and progress of deliveries to ensure customer satisfaction while optimizing costs.
• Review environmental strategies that impact future ways of operating and implement key strategies when and where possible.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills

• Minimum 10+ years of progressive experience in a key leadership/management role within a manufacturing facility, automotive/aftermarket manufacturing experience required.
• Previous experience of leading material/production planning and inventory management within an automotive or manufacturing environment, with expert knowledge and understanding of automotive processes, components, and supply chain management in an aftermarket and OE environment
• Expert knowledge of technical regulations and legislation related to field.
• Proven leadership and management skills, with the ability to optimize team performance and development.
• Excellent relationship management skills, with the ability to engage, negotiate, and manage key stakeholders, customers, and external providers.
• Proven analytical, problem solving, and organizational skills.
• Advanced Excel experience required.
• Knowledge of raw materials, distribution of goods, and manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of lean techniques.
• Strong business acumen, preferably within management principles, strategic planning, critical thinking, budgeting, resource allocation, and human resources.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, or related discipline, or a combination of education and experience.
• Lean Certification preferred.
• Six Sigma Greenbelt/Blackbelt preferred.
• APICS Certification preferred.

MUST HAVE

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, or related discipline, or a combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 10+ years of progressive experience in a key leadership/management role within a manufacturing facility, automotive/aftermarket manufacturing.
• 10 years progressive experience (automotive very strongly preferred, but at minimum, plant manufacturing experience).
• Previous experience of leading material/production planning and inventory management within an automotive or manufacturing environment, with expert knowledge and understanding of automotive processes, components, and supply chain management in an aftermarket and OE environment.
• A strong background in supply chain/materials management.
• Experience in a leadership/management role and a solid work history.
• Knowledge and experience with raw materials and manufacturing processes.
• Advanced Excel experience required.

NICE TO HAVE

• Lean Certification preferred.
• Six Sigma Greenbelt/Blackbelt preferred.
• APICS Certification preferred.
• Expert knowledge of technical regulations and legislation related to field.
• Knowledge of raw materials, distribution of goods, and manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of lean techniques.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Salary range: $90-110k (could possibly go up to 120k for right candidate) plus a target bonus of 10% annual salary.
• Reports to Plant Manager

Manages a team consisting of:

• Master Scheduler
• Inventory Control Specialist
• Material Planners (4)
• Cycle Counter (hourly factory – works on off shift)
• Potential to also oversee Warehouse operations.