Materials Manager

The Materials Manager is responsible for leading all materials planning, inventory control, and supply chain execution in support of high-reliability electronics manufacturing within a fast-paced contract manufacturing (PCBA) environment.

This role owns material availability, accuracy, and traceability across electronic components, subassemblies, and finished goods to ensure uninterrupted production and on-time delivery to customers. The Materials Manager drives proactive risk management across the supply chain, ensures compliance with industry standards (including Class 3 / aerospace requirements), and leads continuous improvement initiatives to optimize inventory performance and operational efficiency.

This position serves as a critical cross-functional leader, aligning supply chain execution with production, engineering, quality, and customer expectations.

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Key Responsibilities

Material Planning & Inventory Control

• Own inventory strategy, planning parameters, and execution to balance service levels, working capital, and risk
• Ensure material availability to support production schedules, customer demand, and revenue targets
• Monitor and maintain inventory accuracy through cycle counting, root cause analysis, and corrective actions
• Manage excess and obsolete (E&O) inventory, including prevention strategies and disposition plans
• Drive improvements in inventory turns, shortages reduction, and material flow efficiency

Supply Chain & Supplier Management

• Partner with procurement and sourcing teams to ensure timely and cost-effective material supply
• Proactively manage long lead-time components, allocations, and supply constraints
• Interface with OEMs, distributors, and suppliers to resolve shortages, quality issues, and delivery risks
• Develop and execute alternate sourcing strategies and risk mitigation plans
• Support supplier performance management and escalation activities

Production Support & Execution

• Ensure material readiness for production including kitting, staging, and line-side delivery
• Lead resolution of material shortages, substitutions, and allocation conflicts impacting builds
• Support NPI, prototype builds, and engineering changes (ECOs), ensuring seamless material transitions
• Drive material flow improvements across receiving, warehouse, and production interfaces

Warehouse, Logistics & Material Handling

• Oversee receiving, storage, handling, and shipment of materials and finished goods
• Ensure proper handling of ESD-sensitive, moisture-sensitive (MSD), and shelf-life-controlled materials
• Maintain FIFO/FEFO practices and full lot/date code traceability
• Optimize warehouse layout, material movement, and transaction accuracy

Compliance & Quality

• Ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, and industry standards (ISO, AS9100, FDA as applicable)
• Own material-related nonconformances, RMAs, and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA)
• Support internal, customer, and regulatory audits
• Ensure full traceability and documentation for all material movements and usage

Systems, Data & Reporting

• Own material data integrity within ERP/MRP systems (BOMs, part masters, planning parameters, inventory)
• Ensure accurate demand signals and alignment with forecasts and customer requirements
• Track, analyze, and report key performance indicators (KPIs), including:
  • Inventory turns
  • Material shortages
  • On-time delivery (OTD)
  • Forecast accuracy
• Provide clear, actionable reporting to leadership and customers

Customer & Program Support

• Act as primary point of contact for material status, risks, and escalations
• Align material plans with customer forecasts, contracts, and demand variability
• Manage consigned and customer-owned inventory programs
• Support program reviews and customer communications related to supply chain performance

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Lead, develop, and hold accountable materials team members (planners, buyers, warehouse personnel)
• Establish clear priorities, performance expectations, and accountability metrics
• Drive Lean and continuous improvement initiatives (Kanban, VMI, PFEP, process standardization)
• Promote strong cross-functional collaboration across supply chain, operations, engineering, and quality

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Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 5+ years of materials management experience in electronics or contract manufacturing (PCBA preferred)
• Experience operating in high-mix, low-to-medium volume manufacturing environments

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Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of electronic components (active, passive, electromechanical) and supply chain dynamics
• Proven experience managing shortages, allocations, and long lead-time materials
• Deep understanding of inventory control, MRP planning, and demand management
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle, Manex, or similar)
• Strong analytical capability with ability to interpret data and drive decisions
• Knowledge of ESD controls, lot traceability, date codes, and shelf-life management
• Demonstrated leadership and team development experience
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills
• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, high-accountability environments