Materials Management SME

Apex Systems; Toronto; On-site; CAD 96,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

Apex Systems is partnering with a Biotechnology client in Downtown Toronto to recruit a Materials Management SME. The role requires hands-on GMP warehouse and materials leadership, with responsibility for receiving, storage, and issuing materials for GMP manufacturing.

The successful candidate will drive inventory discipline, collaborate with QA and Manufacturing, and help deploy material management practices at a new Toronto site scheduled to open in early 2028.

Qualifications

• 8-10+ years of GMP materials management experience.
• 3-5+ years of people leadership experience.
• Hands-on GMP experience in receiving, inventory control, picking, issuing, and material traceability.
• Experience with ERP systems; Oracle Fusion preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own receiving, put-away, storage, picking, issuing, returns, and transfers; ensure accuracy and readiness.
• Lead onsite team, establish priorities, coverage, and escalation paths.
• Manage inventory transactions, cycle counts, and reconciliation; ensure data integrity in Oracle Fusion.
• Ensure GMP compliance, QA involvement, SOP adherence, and inspections readiness.
• Collaborate across Planning, Manufacturing, QA, QC, Engineering, and Facilities to optimize material flow and readiness.

Skills

GMP knowledge

Inventory control

Cross-functional communication

Coaching

Problem solving

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Oracle Fusion

ERP systems

Job description

# Materials Management SMEApply**Job#: 3056341****Job Description:****Materials Management SME****Client:** Biotechnology company**Contract/Perm & duration:** 12-month contract**Location:** Downtown Toronto, this position will be working 5 days onsite per week.**Pay Rate:** $70-85/hr**Position Summary**The Materials Management SME will lead daily material operations supporting our client’s Toronto GMP manufacturing activities. This role requires substantial hands-on GMP experience and a visible presence in receiving, storage, production support areas. The successful candidate will ensure that the correct materials are available, accurately recorded, appropriately stored, and ready for use in accordance with approved procedures and quality status. The SME will resolve operational issues using sound GMP judgment and collaboration with Supply Chain, Manufacturing, QA, QC, Planning, and Lab Operations.The individual will partner with the existing Supply Chain Operations team and work with this team to establish clear accountability & ways of working within the team and with stakeholders.In addition, the Materials Management SME will support the definition and deployment of material management practices at our new location in Toronto. The facility will start construction in Dec ’26 with move-in scheduled for January 1, 2028. The individual will partner with IT to deploy business systems required to operate the facility.**Candidate Profile**An experienced GMP warehouse and materials leader with a track record of directly managing floor operations and developing execution teams in a biotechnology manufacturing environment. The role requires someone who combines operational ownership, practical GMP judgment, inventory discipline, and effective partnership with Quality and Manufacturing.**Key Responsibilities****Daily Operations and Manufacturing Readiness**● Own receiving, put-away, storage, picking, issuing, returns, and material transfers from off site warehouses.● Verify material identity, quantity, condition, lot information, expiry, and required supplier documentation during receipt.● Maintain controls for material segregation, traceability, storage conditions, and approved status before issue or use.● Coordinate with Planning and Manufacturing to confirm material readiness before production runs and resolve shortages promptly.● Manage external warehouse replenishment, transfers, and inventory reconciliation.● Track external warehouse service performance and coordinate issue resolution with Procurement and Quality.● Maintain required temperature controls and shipment records for cold-chain and ultra-cold materials within the department’s scope.● Improve material flow from receipt through storage, staging, and issue so materials reach the required location in time to support manufacturing.● Align staging and replenishment plans with production schedules, storage capacity, and material handling requirements.● Coordinate with Engineering and Facilities to ensure material handling equipment is available, appropriately qualified where required, maintained, and ready for use.**Team Leadership and Onsite Coverage**● Establish clear responsibilities, daily priorities, escalation paths, and follow-through.● Maintain adequate onsite staffing and backup coverage for receiving, issuing, inventory, and manufacturing support.● Develop cross-training plans that preserve accountability and sufficient floor coverage.● Coach team members in practical GMP execution and evaluate performance against quality, accuracy, and service expectations.● Conduct routine floor reviews to identify issues and verify completion of required activities.● Lead and develop the existing Materials Management team, building a culture of safety, quality, inclusion, and accountability.● Establish contingency and escalation arrangements for material issues, including support outside normal hours when production schedules require it.**Inventory and Oracle Execution**● Use Oracle ERP as the source of truth for inventory balances and transactions, maintaining accurate records that reflect physical inventory, material status, and location.● Ensure all inventory transactions, including receipts, transfers, issues, returns, and approved adjustments, are recorded accurately and promptly within required timelines; review outstanding transactions and resolve discrepancies in a timely manner.● Manage cycle counts, physical inventory, discrepancy investigations, and corrective actions.● Review hard reservations, inventory availability, expiry, and material status to support production requirements.● Partner with master data owners to verify item setup and resolve errors affecting material ordering, receipt, or use.**GMP Compliance and Operational Judgment**● Apply approved SOPs and verify requirements before making or communicating operational decisions.● Lead Materials Management execution within approved procedures and defined authority; involve QA for quality decisions, deviations, disposition, and required approvals.● Ensure required COAs and receiving records are available to support QC and QA activities.● Lead investigations into material handling events and inventory discrepancies; identify root causes, implement corrective and preventive actions, and verify their effectiveness.● Author and revise department SOPs, support change controls, and ensure training is completed before new procedures are implemented.● Represent Materials Management during internal audits and regulatory inspections, prepare supporting records, and coordinate responses and follow-up actions with Quality.● Incorporate guidance from experienced subject matter experts and communicate verified facts, root causes, and proposed solutions.● Apply site Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) requirements to storage, handling, and transport activities.**Operational Excellence and Cross Functional Collaboration**● Provide Supply Chain and Materials Management support for the design, build-out, and operational readiness of the new Toronto building, partnering with Engineering, Facilities, Manufacturing, and Quality to define receiving and storage requirements, material flows, equipment and system needs, and readiness for GMP operations.● Build a departmental improvement plan aligned with manufacturing priorities and site readiness.● Apply Lean and continuous improvement methods to reduce receiving delays, unnecessary material movements, transaction errors, and rework.● Monitor inventory accuracy, receipt-to-availability time, on-time material issue, overdue transactions, and investigation closure; use results to prioritize improvements.● Plan staffing, storage, and inventory utilization to meet operational needs and budget commitments while maintaining quality and service.● Partner with Manufacturing, QA, QC, Engineering, Process Development, Automation, Planning, and external warehouses to resolve material flow and system issues.● Support digital improvements connecting Oracle Fusion with applicable inventory, manufacturing, and quality systems.● Partner with MSAT on material readiness and escalate supply risks to Planning, Procurement, and Quality.**Required Qualifications**● 8-10+ years of progressive experience in GMP materials management, warehouse operations, inventory control, manufacturing support, or supply chain operations within biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or other GMP-regulated environments● 3-5+ years of people leadership experience, including coaching, developing, and leading high-performing teams● Demonstrated hands-on GMP experience in receiving, inventory control, picking, issuing, and material traceability.● Proven ability to interpret procedures, investigate discrepancies, and make timely operational decisions within defined authority.● Working knowledge of QA and EHS requirements applicable to materials operations.● Experience using ERP systems for warehouse management, inventory control, and inventory transactions; Oracle Fusion experience strongly preferred.● Experience supporting manufacturing schedules and managing external warehouse relationships.● Strong coaching, cross-functional communication, and problem-solving skills.● Demonstrated ability to develop teams, organize competing priorities, and influence decisions across functions.● Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, science, business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.**Preferred Qualifications**● Prior manager or senior manager responsibility for GMP warehouse and materials operations in a biotechnology manufacturing facility.● Cell and gene therapy or biologics manufacturing experience.● Experience handling temperature-sensitive materials.● Experience supporting GMP inspections and improving material workflows.● Experience implementing Lean, Operational Excellence, or structured continuous improvement initiatives.● Familiarity with manufacturing execution systems, electronic batch records, and barcode or RFID tools supporting material traceability.● Familiarity with LIMS and its relationship to ERP material and quality status workflows.**Measures of Success**● Accurate physical and system inventory.● Materials ready when needed for production.● Reliable onsite coverage and clear team ownership.● Timely resolution of shortages and discrepancies.● Complete receiving documentation and effective GMP execution.● Demonstrated improvements in workflow efficiency, team capability, and inspection readiness.