Materials Manager

Nmble Hiring Solutions; Grand Rapids; On-site; CAD 125,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability coverage

401(k) with employer matching

Paid vacation and sick time

Annual performance-bonus opportunity

Job summary

Nmble Hiring Solutions is seeking an experienced Materials Manager to lead materials operations across two West Michigan facilities for a global manufacturing organization in the automotive sector. You will oversee purchasing, planning, scheduling, inventory control, supplier management, and ERP/MRP data integrity while developing teams and scaling processes for pre-launch and ongoing production.

Local candidates preferred; on-site role with potential for supplier integration and program

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business, operations, engineering, or a related field—or equivalent professional experience.
• At least eight years of progressive materials, supply-chain, purchasing, planning, or manufacturing experience.
• Materials leadership experience within the automotive industry.
• Experience supporting major automotive OEM customers; Ford and/or General Motors experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience with automotive program launches, supplier onboarding, and production ramp-up.

Responsibilities

• Lead materials activities across two manufacturing facilities, including purchasing, materials planning, master scheduling, inventory control, and production support.
• Coach, develop, and provide day-to-day leadership to buyers, planners, and scheduling professionals.
• Support the launch of multiple new automotive programs and ensure material readiness throughout pre-launch, launch, and ongoing production.
• Partner with global and local program teams to review bills of material, sourcing decisions, supplier capacity, lead times, and potential supply risks.
• Lead the onboarding and operational integration of new suppliers, particularly within the automotive electronics supply chain.
• Monitor material availability and identify potential disruptions before they affect production or customer delivery.
• Escalate supplier performance issues and drive timely corrective actions when commitments are at risk.
• Build effective relationships with automotive customers, suppliers, operations leaders, program managers, warehouse teams, and corporate stakeholders.
• Ensure accurate ERP/MRP parameters, planning data, inventory records, and cycle-count controls.
• Drive inventory performance, including improved accuracy, appropriate stocking levels, and the reduction of excess and obsolete materials.
• Oversee the timely and cost-effective flow of materials to production while maintaining quality and handling standards.
• Develop and maintain materials policies, procedures, controls, and corporate reporting.
• Review purchase orders, change notices, contracts, and purchasing claims for accuracy and policy compliance.
• Maintain a visible presence on the manufacturing floor and develop a practical understanding of production processes and material flow.
• Support occasional evening or weekend needs based on production requirements.

Skills

ERP/MRP systems

Supply chain leadership

Vendor management

Strong communication

Analytical skills

Problem solving

On-site presence

Education

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business, operations, engineering, or related field

Tools

BAAN

SAP

Oracle ERP

Job description

A global manufacturing organization is seeking an experienced Materials Manager to lead materials operations across two growing West Michigan facilities.

This is a highly visible leadership role supporting a rapidly expanding automotive business with multiple new programs launching over the next several years. The Materials Manager will lead purchasing, planning, scheduling, inventory control, and supplier-management activities while helping the organization scale its systems, processes, and team.

The ideal candidate is a proactive, hands-on materials leader who understands automotive manufacturing, anticipates supply-chain risks, and can confidently engage suppliers, customers, corporate partners, and plant leadership.

What You’ll Do

• Lead materials activities across two manufacturing facilities, including purchasing, materials planning, master scheduling, inventory control, and production support.
• Coach, develop, and provide day-to-day leadership to buyers, planners, and scheduling professionals.
• Support the launch of multiple new automotive programs and ensure material readiness throughout pre-launch, launch, and ongoing production.
• Partner with global and local program teams to review bills of material, sourcing decisions, supplier capacity, lead times, and potential supply risks.
• Lead the onboarding and operational integration of new suppliers, particularly within the automotive electronics supply chain.
• Monitor material availability and identify potential disruptions before they affect production or customer delivery.
• Escalate supplier performance issues and drive timely corrective actions when commitments are at risk.
• Build effective relationships with automotive customers, suppliers, operations leaders, program managers, warehouse teams, and corporate stakeholders.
• Ensure accurate ERP/MRP parameters, planning data, inventory records, and cycle-count controls.
• Drive inventory performance, including improved accuracy, appropriate stocking levels, and the reduction of excess and obsolete materials.
• Oversee the timely and cost-effective flow of materials to production while maintaining quality and handling standards.
• Develop and maintain materials policies, procedures, controls, and corporate reporting.
• Review purchase orders, change notices, contracts, and purchasing claims for accuracy and policy compliance.
• Maintain a visible presence on the manufacturing floor and develop a practical understanding of production processes and material flow.
• Support occasional evening or weekend needs based on production requirements.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business, operations, engineering, or a related field—or equivalent professional experience.
• At least eight years of progressive materials, supply-chain, purchasing, planning, or manufacturing experience.
• Materials leadership experience within the automotive industry.
• Experience supporting major automotive OEM customers; Ford and/or General Motors experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience with automotive program launches, supplier onboarding, and production ramp-up.
• Working knowledge of electronics manufacturing, PCBA, SMT, or a related technical supply chain.
• Demonstrated experience leading buyers, planners, schedulers, or other materials professionals.
• Strong understanding of ERP/MRP systems, planning logic, inventory controls, and material requirements.
• Experience with BAAN is helpful but not required; experience with SAP, Oracle, or another manufacturing ERP system is welcome.
• Ability to analyze supply risks, establish priorities, and act before issues disrupt production.
• Confidence holding suppliers accountable and navigating difficult conversations professionally.
• Strong communication, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to balance hands-on operational involvement with leadership meetings and corporate reporting.
• Willingness to work on-site and support both Walker and Coopersville operations.

What Will Make You Successful

You will thrive in this role if you:

• Lead with urgency without creating unnecessary fire drills.
• Recognize supply-chain risks early and develop practical mitigation plans.
• Know when to elevate an issue and when to let the team execute.
• Build trust with an established team while introducing greater accountability and structure.
• Are comfortable working in a lean, fast-moving manufacturing environment.
• Can collaborate across local operations and a large global organization.
• Enjoy developing people and building scalable materials processes.
• Want the opportunity to grow into broader materials or supply-chain leadership.

The comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Annual performance-bonus opportunity

Local candidates are preferred; however, exceptional candidates outside West Michigan are encouraged to apply. Employment sponsorship is not available for this position.