Lead Materials Specialist

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Erie (Erie County); On-site; USD 69,000 - 98,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Annual bonus

Retirement plan

Job summary

Wabtec seeks a Lead Materials Specialist to optimize material flow, inventory levels, and on-time delivery across the kitting operation. You will collaborate with operations, engineering, sales, quality, and supply chain to drive continuous improvements, improve inventory accuracy, and enhance supplier performance.

You will use data-driven decision making to identify opportunities for efficiency, reduce variances, and support year-over-year optimization across the manufacturing agenda.

Qualifications

• Minimum two years in a production or materials role in manufacturing.
• Comprehensive knowledge of manufacturing techniques and processes.
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, or Business (or equivalent demonstrated combination of education and experience).
• Strategic and creative thinking to analyze issues and create solutions.
• Experience with MRP systems.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with high attention to detail.
• Knowledge of production/materials control systems.
• Understanding of continuous improvement, lean manufacturing concepts and production schedules.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversees Material Planning, Inventory Control, and MTA functions.
• Collaborates with warehouse and other teams to improve inventory accuracy and cycle counting.
• Leads material presentations on production lines.
• Ensures work order and transactional accuracy as material requirements change.
• Meets inventory targets including month-end and quarter-close processes; maintains accuracy during physical inventory.
• Drives year-over-year inventory reduction and on-time delivery improvements.
• Presents materials metrics and project updates to senior leadership.
• Works in cross-functional teams to support customer success in kitting operations.
• Leads department initiatives and plant-wide materials process improvements.
• Takes ownership and may extend responsibilities to other functions as needed.
• Reports issues and communicates quickly, possibly long hours to complete tasks.

Skills

Production experience

Inventory control

Analytical thinking

Leadership & coaching

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related

Tools

MRP systems

Excel

Access

Job description

As a Lead Materials Specialist, you will play a critical role in ensuring the efficient flow of materials, optimized inventory levels, and on-time delivery performance across the Kitting manufacturing operation. Through collaboration with operations, engineering, sales, quality, and supply chain teams, you will drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance production planning, improve inventory accuracy, reduce operational variances, and strengthen supplier performance. This role will use data-driven decision making to identify opportunities for greater efficiency, improved customer delivery performance, and year-over-year inventory optimization.

What do we want to know about you?

Do you have:

• A minimum two current years’ experience in a production or materials role in manufacturing industry.
• Comprehensive knowledge of manufacturing techniques and processes.
• Bachelor's Degree, required in Engineering, Supply Chain, or Business (or equivalent demonstrated combination of education and experience).
• Strategic and creative thinking to analyze issues that may arise and create solutions.
• Experience with MRP systems.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while having a high degree of attention to details.
• Knowledge of production/materials control system.
• Understanding of continuous improvement, lean manufacturing concepts and production schedules preferred.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrates effective communication skills and interpersonal skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to influence, motivate, coach, and drive accountability.
• Experience working with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and Access.

What will your typical day look like?

Oversees Material Planning, Inventory Control, and in ERI org, MTA functions

• Work with various Operations, Quality, and Materials Teams to manage material and other systemic requirements.
• Collaborates with warehouse team to review and improve inventory accuracy and cycle counting programs
• Lead material presentation on production lines.
• Ensure work order and transactional accuracy as our customers and internal stakeholders change material requirements
• Meet inventory targets including month-end and quarter-close processes for inventory, in addition to achieving an elevated level of accuracy during yearly physical inventory.
• Drive YOY inventory reduction and accuracy improvements & customer on-time performance.
• Provide clear communication and technical materials guidance to management and other Wabtec employees daily.
• Be expected to occasionally report on and present materials metrics and project improvements to senior and executive leadership.
• Work as part of a cross functional team, driving a "one team" focus, dedicated to customer success within the kitting operation.
• Be expected to take ownership of and lead projects for plantwide materials process improvement, in addition to your scheduling and inventory responsibilities.
• Be expected to take a leadership role in your department, flexing outside your traditional job responsibilities to assist and improve other functions.
• Be expected to respond to issues and communicate quickly and effectively, and to work long hours to ensure that the job gets done.

Who will you be working with?

Wabtec is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and value-added services. Our team is focused on continually improving our best-in-class kitting and distribution operation. We combine deep domain expertise and tenured experience to deliver unparalleled products for our customers. Here you’ll interact daily with team members during the problem resolution process, and will partner with other key stakeholders to support our internal and external customers, and their responsibilities.

Additional Information

Our job titles may span more than one career level. The salary rate for this role is currently $68900-98200 The actual salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors, such as: training, transferable skills, work experience, education, business needs, market demands and work location. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, are available at mywabtecbenefits.com. Other benefit offerings for this role may include annual bonus, if eligible.

What could you accomplish in a place that puts People First?

At Wabtec, it’s not just about a job - it’s about the impact you make. When our people come together, we’re Expanding the Possible by continuously improving what we do and how we do it - for our clients and each other.

If you’re ready to revolutionize how the world moves for future generations, Wabtec is the place for you.

Who are we?

Wabtec is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and value-added services for the freight and transit rail sectors. Drawing on more than 150 years of experience, we are leading the way in safety, efficiency, reliability, innovation, and productivity. Whether it’s freight, transit, ports, logistics, mining, industrial, or marine, our expertise, technologies, and people together – are accelerating the future of transportation. With roots that date back to George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, and Louis Faiveley, Wabtec has always built technologies and implemented solutions for a variety of sectors that are critical to meeting the needs of customers and governments alike.

Our global team of about 30,000 employees worldwide delivers performance that moves the world forward. We’re lifelong learners, obsessed with better. Learn more at www.WabtecCorp.com.

Culture powers us and the possibilities.

We believe the best ideas come from a mix of experiences and backgrounds. At Wabtec, we strive every day to create a place where everyone belongs. We’re building a culture where leadership, inclusion and your unique perspective fuel progress.

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome talent of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including race, gender, age, disability, veteran status and more.

Need accommodation? Just let us know - we’ve got you.