Dir Material Operations

Consumers Energy; Jackson (MI); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision

401k with company match

Paid parental leave

Up to 13 paid Holidays

Paid time off

Educational Assistance Program

Job summary

Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider, seeks a Director of Material Operations to lead warehousing, inventory, and logistics. You will shape budgets, drive safe and compliant operations, and foster a strong union partnership to improve efficiency and cost performance across the enterprise.

The role emphasizes collaboration with Engineering, Field Operations, Scheduling, and Supply Chain to prevent delays, reduce costs, and promote waste elimination while delivering reliable

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 10+ years in operations, warehousing, logistics, or material management; familiarity with utility environments.
• Associate degree option requires 12+ years in the field; high school option requires 14+ years in the field.

Responsibilities

• Oversee warehousing, inventory, material control, and logistics for Supply Chain.
• Develop budgets/forecasts and ensure safety and environmental compliance.
• Build strong union partnerships and drive waste elimination and efficiency.
• Lead digital system adoption and SAP transaction accuracy across material operations.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Field Operations, Scheduling, and Supply Chain to prevent delays.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Analytics

Cross-functional

Change management

Materials management

Union relations

Solution orientation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field

Associate degree + 12+ years experience

High school diploma/GED + 14+ years experience

Job description

Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.

This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship, e.g., H-1B, TN, etc. Please do not apply if you will need immigration sponsorship for a work visa now or in the future, including sponsorship for H-1B, TN, etc., now or in the future. We are unable to hire individuals with CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT for this position as the position is not eligible for participation in the H-1B lottery program and is not eligible for current or future immigration sponsorship for a work visa.

Location

This is a hybrid (virtual/onsite) position that may be based out of any Consumers Energy Service Center located throughout Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The selected candidate may work from their assigned or preferred Service Center for their regular onsite work, with the expectation of reporting to Jackson at least one day per week. The selected candidate must be within a commutable distance or willing to relocate (relocation package is available for those who qualify).

General Summary Of Job Responsibilities

The Director of Material Operations is responsible for the overall management, strategy, and efficiency of all elements of material operations, including warehousing, inventory and material control, and logistics for Supply Chain. Responsible for developing goals and program budgets/forecasts, ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory, safety, and environmental requirements, and overseeing enterprise-wide material strategies to ensure material availability while balancing cost and waste elimination. Develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure all operational activities are carried out in a safe and efficient manner. Builds and maintains a strong union partnership with a focus on waste elimination, excellent operational performance, and promoting high engagement and empowerment.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Balance working capital by tracking productivity metrics for materials and labor and overseeing warehouse and distribution operations.
• Provide guidance and collaborate with Labor Relations and union leadership, including at the state council level, to resolve contract disputes and grievances while strategically supporting contract negotiation and implementation across the state.
• Oversee enterprise-wide material strategies to ensure material availability and operational efficiency, including within partner organizations; ensure safe and reliable operations, including  ICS operations.
• Partner with Engineering, Field Operations, Scheduling, and Supply Chain teams to prevent delays in material allocation and reduce costs.
• Drive digital system adoption, ensure the accuracy and efficiency of SAP transactions, and ensure compliance with material management standards and best practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Demonstrated leadership effectiveness and strong interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across all levels, including with union leadership.
• Excellent analytical, critical-thinking, and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally.
• Demonstrated ability to structure projects with a focus on oversight and control.
• Able to effectively lead organizational change initiatives.
• Results-driven with a bias for action.
• Knowledge of standards, processes, and industry best practices for material management.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field with ten (10) or more years of experience in operations, utility, warehousing, logistics, material management, or a similar field (Required).
• (OR) Associate degree with twelve (12) or more years of experience in operations, utility, warehousing, logistics, material management, or a similar field (Required).
• (OR) High school diploma/GED with fourteen (14) or more years of experience in operations, utility, warehousing, logistics, material management, or a similar field (Required).

Why should you join our team?

At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401k with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 13 paid Holidays
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance Program

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We, at CMS Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don’t discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY (Different Generations), capable (Different Abilities), Interfaith, People Planet Partners, and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.

All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.