Director of Materials Management

The Director of Materials Management will lead the end-to-end materials management function for manufacturing of high-end indoor and outdoor cooking appliances. This role owns demand planning translation and timely loading of the approved forecast into the ERP/MRP system supply planning purchasing execution inventory performance and material availability. This leader establishes a disciplined demand-to-supply operating cadence; maintains direct proactive communication with suppliers; and partners closely with manufacturing to identify escalate and resolve potential shortages before production is affected. The Director leads and develops a team of 5-7 buyers planners and materials professionals in an engaged continuous improvement environment while collaborating with Strategic Sourcing on contracts pricing supplier strategy and new product introductions.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESULTS

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for demand planning supply planning purchasing execution inventory control and material availability across the manufacturing operation.
• Own the demand planning process and operating cadence integrating commercial forecasts customer demand production plans promotions service requirements and new product introductions into one approved demand plan.
• Ensure the approved forecast is accurately and timely loaded into the ERP/MRP system; govern planning parameters lead times safety stocks order policies and master data so system-generated demand signals are reliable and actionable.
• Chair regular demand and supply reviews identify material and capacity gaps reconcile constraints document decisions and communicate risks options and required actions to executive and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Maintain direct and proactive supplier communication regarding forecasts purchase requirements capacity commitments past-due orders expedites recovery plans and emerging risks.
• Establish supplier operating rhythms and performance reviews; drive corrective actions and sustainable recovery for delivery quality responsiveness and capacity issues.
• Stay closely connected to manufacturing through daily shortage and production-readiness reviews; anticipate constraints prioritize actions and escalate potential line-impacting shortages with clear owners and recovery dates.
• Lead cross-functional shortage mitigation with manufacturing quality engineering logistics and Strategic Sourcing including alternate supply substitutions schedule adjustments premium freight decisions and supplier recovery plans.
• Optimize inventory investment and working capital by balancing service and production continuity with inventory turns excess and obsolete exposure safety stock lot sizes and supplier lead times.
• Set functional strategy policies standard work controls and decision rights for planning buying shortage management inventory governance and supplier follow-up.
• Partner with Strategic Sourcing on supplier transitions resourcing negotiations cost-reduction initiatives risk management and new product introductions while ensuring execution readiness and continuity of supply.
• Partner with Quality and Engineering to resolve supplier non-conformance disposition constrained material and ensure corrective actions protect future production requirements.
• Build meaningful dashboards and analytics that provide forward-looking visibility to demand changes forecast accuracy supplier performance shortages inventory health and production risk.
• Lead coach and develop a team of 5-7 buyers planners and materials professionals; set clear goals provide timely feedback build succession capability and hold the team accountable for results.
• Create an engaged continuous improvement culture using structured problem solving root-cause analysis standard work visual management and employee-led improvement initiatives.
• Develop team capability in ERP/MRP discipline data analysis supplier communication business acumen and cross-functional influence; ensure appropriate workload balance and coverage.
• Communicate supply risks operational tradeoffs and performance trends clearly across all levels of the organization and translate business priorities into aligned materials actions.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:

• Demand plan and system discipline - forecast accuracy and bias by product family; approved forecast loaded into ERP/MRP accurately and on schedule; planning parameter and master-data accuracy.
• Material availability and production continuity - material availability to schedule; shortage aging and closure rate; production disruptions or schedule misses attributable to material shortages.
• Supplier delivery and responsiveness - supplier on-time delivery past-due purchase orders commit-date adherence corrective-action closure and recovery-plan effectiveness.
• Inventory and working capital - inventory turns or days on hand; excess and obsolete inventory; safety-stock adherence; inventory record accuracy; progress against annual working-capital plan.
• Planning and purchasing execution - MRP exception closure purchase-order placement timeliness reschedule-message action rate and premium freight or expedite cost attributable to planning or supplier performance.
• Cross-functional operating cadence - on-time completion of demand supply shortage and supplier reviews; timely escalation of material risks with documented owners actions and recovery dates.
• Continuous improvement - measurable improvements delivered against the annual CI roadmap including lead-time reduction process adherence waste elimination and sustained corrective actions.
• People leadership and engagement - achievement of team objectives development-plan completion retention succession coverage cross-training engagement and closure of employee-led improvement actions.
• Financial performance - materials-related cost inventory premium freight and productivity performance versus the annual operating plan.

• Bachelors degree in supply chain management operations business engineering or a related field; advanced degree or relevant professional certification preferred
• 10 years of progressive materials management planning purchasing or operations experience in a complex manufacturing environment including 5 years of people leadership
• Demonstrated success leading a team of 5-7 or more buyers planners or materials professionals in an engaged accountable continuous improvement culture
• Deep expertise in demand planning forecasting ERP/MRP master data inventory optimization production planning and shortage management
• Proven ability to translate an approved demand forecast into accurate system requirements and executable supply plans
• Strong supplier-management capability including forecast communication capacity alignment performance reviews escalation corrective action and recovery planning
• Track record of partnering closely with manufacturing to anticipate material constraints and protect production schedules
• Strong financial and analytical acumen with experience building KPI dashboards interpreting trends and converting data into decisions and sustained results
• Working knowledge of Lean Six Sigma or comparable continuous improvement methods and structured root-cause problem solving
• Executive-level communication influence and change-leadership skills; able to create alignment and drive accountability across functions and organizational levels