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Manager, Material Planning

Warsaw, IN

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.  We are unable to financially sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for this opportunity currently.


About Slate

At Slate, we’ve got one job: building a vehicle you’ll fall in love with, right here in the USA.  We believe that car buyers — not car companies — should call the shots.  We like looking at a road, not a screen.  We don’t like paying for stuff we don’t need.
We like picking out the stuff we do need.  We think dings are badges, not blemishes.  But we know not everyone likes what we like.  So, we built you a Slate: you make it yours.


Who we are looking for:

The Manager, Material Planning is responsible for leading and managing a team focused on manufacturing material planning, supply chain operations, and launch execution. This role ensures efficient supply chain coordination, optimizing inventory management, scheduling, and supplier relationships to support production continuity.

Acting as the primary liaison between purchasing, engineering, warehousing, operations, logistics, and suppliers, this position resolves issues and drives improvements in material planning and supply chain efficiency.  Additionally, the manager will oversee employee development, training, and performance management, ensuring an effective organizational structure.


What you get to do:

Strategic Planning & Process Development

  • Develop, refine, and implement best practices for material planning, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
  • Drive the continuous improvement of supply chain strategies to maximize efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
  • Establish KPIs for material planning processes, tracking progress, and implementing improvements.
  • Analyze long-term material requirements, ensuring optimal forecasting accuracy.

Material Scheduling & Inventory Optimization

  • Schedule and forecast material demand to ensure uninterrupted production, minimizing excess inventory and costs.
  • Implement strategic material planning techniques to maintain operational and production continuity.
  • Ensure accurate MRP system data integrity, initiating enhancements and troubleshooting inefficiencies.
  • Oversee inventory control measures, ensuring stock levels are properly maintained to meet production schedules.
  • Develop contingency plans to mitigate material shortages, ensuring rapid resolution of supply chain disruptions.
  • Assess production volume needs against planning assumptions, adjusting strategies as necessary.

Supplier & Logistics Coordination

  • Foster collaborative relationships with Slate Logistics Team & Production Part suppliers to secure timely and efficient material delivery.
  • Provide input to Purchasing & Logistics Team to optimize supply chain performance and cost management.
  • Monitor supplier schedules and ensure their alignment with production needs and quality standards.
  • Work closely with logistics teams to streamline the transportation and warehousing of materials.
  • Address and resolve supplier concerns, evaluating performance regularly to ensure compliance with contractual agreements.
  • Support new product launches by ensuring smooth material integration within production processes.

Operational Excellence & Problem Solving

  • Proactively tackle supply chain issues, implementing innovative solutions to minimize operational risks.
  • Oversee the transition of obsolete parts, ensuring minimum financial liability and waste reduction.
  • Support manufacturing changes / Change Management and process enhancements, ensuring materials are consistently available. Support NPI & launch activities related to change management.
  • Establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for material planning, improving efficiency and accountability.
  • Optimize cost-saving strategies while maintaining quality and productivity standards.

Leadership & People Management

  • Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Conduct regular performance reviews, identifying growth opportunities for direct reports.
  • Ensure compliance with company policies related to health, safety, and environmental standards.
  • Promote a collaborative, high-energy work environment, encouraging teamwork and innovation.
  • Train employees on material scheduling principles, production planning, and supply chain optimization.

Financial Budget & Control

  • Develop and manage the material planning budget, ensuring cost efficiency and process optimization.
  • Monitor financial impacts related to supplier contracts, inventory control, and procurement strategies.
  • Drive cost-saving initiatives while maintaining operational effectiveness and production integrity.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

  • Work with purchasing, engineering, and manufacturing teams to enhance material management strategies.
  • Collaborate on continuous improvement initiatives, aligning with company-wide supply chain objectives.
  • Participate in supplier sourcing assessments, ensuring the selection of reliable supply partners.
  • Develop comprehensive reports on material availability, production performance, and supply chain efficiency.


What you bring to the team:

Education & Experience Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
  • 8+ years of experience in Material Planning, Production Scheduling, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
  • High volume Lean Manufacturing experience in the automotive industry is strongly preferred.

Technical & Leadership Skills

  • Expert knowledge of ERP systems, Material Requirements Planning (MRP) systems, and inventory control techniques.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUPS, macros, and more.
  • Strong project management skills with the ability to drive initiatives to completion.
  • Strong analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to assess and resolve complex supply chain issues while mitigating production risks.
  • Proven ability to lead and develop teams, providing coaching and mentorship to enhance performance.
  • Experience in supplier management, logistics planning, and purchasing coordination.
  • Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing principles and process improvement methodologies.


Physical Requirements:

  • Must have the ability to travel (up to 10%).
  • Must have the ability to lift up to 35 pounds.
  • Must have the ability to stand, walk, and perform repetitive tasks for extended periods.


Why Join Team Slate?

At Slate, we’re fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail.  The start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness move our business forward.  Team Slate fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and mutual respect, and is motivated by shared principles.

  • Safety First
  • Delight Customers
  • One Team
  • Relentless Improvement
  • Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy
  • Respectful Collaboration
  • Positive Legacy


We want to work with people that reflect the communities in which we operate. 

  • Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer.  We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences.  Or for any other reason.
  • Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures.  If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at recar-talent_acquisition@slate.auto.

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