Material Operations Manager- Indy

Steel & O'Brien Manufacturing; Plainfield (IN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Steel & O’Brien Manufacturing seeks a hands-on Materials Operations & Production Control Manager in Indianapolis to coordinate schedules, work orders, materials, and purchasing for a growing Data Center Cooling operation. You will partner with Production, Purchasing, Warehouse, Engineering, and Quality to enable startup and growth.

You’ll lead a team, establish reliable processes, and drive continuous improvement, safety, and ethical conduct across departments to ensure on-time delivery and

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Business or related field or equivalent experience.
• At least five years of experience in production planning, scheduling, materials management, or related area.
• At least two years of leadership experience.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Proactive approach to problem-solving, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Clear, professional communication and cross-department collaboration.
• Ability to manage changing priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with ERP systems and Microsoft Office; Dynamics 365 experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Establish materials planning, production control, and scheduling processes for Indianapolis facility launch and expansion.
• Manage production work orders from creation to completion with updates and tracking.
• Develop and maintain production schedules with the Production Manager based on material availability and capacity.
• Review contracts, drawings, sales orders, and project documents to determine production needs.
• Allocate materials to job orders and oversee raw material inventory and purchasing.
• Expedite purchase orders supporting open sales orders; communicate shortages and recovery plans.
• Support ERP implementation, maintenance, and data accuracy for work orders and scheduling.
• Lead and develop assigned team members and coordinate with expediting and assembly teams.

Skills

ERP systems

Microsoft Office

Lean Manufacturing

Education

Associate degree in Business or related field

Tools

Dynamics 365

Job description

EOE Statement We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Description

Materials Operations & Production Control Manager

Keep materials moving and production on schedule as a new Indianapolis operation grows.

About the role

Steel & O’Brien Manufacturing is seeking a hands‑on Materials Operations & Production Control Manager to support our new Indianapolis facility serving the Data Center Cooling industry. Reporting to the Operations Director, you’ll coordinate production schedules, work orders, raw materials, and purchasing activities to help meet customer commitments.

You’ll establish reliable processes, develop team members, and work with Production, Purchasing, Warehouse, Engineering, and Quality to support the facility’s startup and continued growth.

What you’ll do

• Help establish materials planning, production control, and scheduling processes as the Indianapolis facility launches and expands.
• Manage production work orders from creation through completion, including updates, communication, follow-up, and status tracking.
• Develop and maintain production schedules with the Production Manager, aligning priorities with material availability, capacity, and customer delivery requirements.
• Review contract specifications, drawings, sales orders, and project documents to understand production and material needs.
• Allocate materials to job orders, oversee raw material and tubing inventory, and purchase production materials in coordination with Purchasing.
• Monitor and expedite purchase orders that support open sales orders. Communicate shortages, delays, and recovery plans.
• Support ERP implementation, maintenance, and process improvements to keep work order, inventory, and scheduling information accurate.
• Lead and develop assigned team members by setting clear expectations and priorities. Coordinate with production expediting and assembly teams to keep work on schedule.
• Establish responsive internal customer support processes so teams can provide accurate information to external customers.
• Track schedule performance, material shortages, and work order status. Identify root causes and implement improvements.
• Work across departments to resolve issues, improve material flow, and support on‑time delivery.
• Champion safety, ethical conduct, and company values.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What you’ll bring

• An associate degree in Business or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• At least five years of experience in production planning, scheduling, materials management, or a related area.
• At least two years of leadership experience.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills, with close attention to detail.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Clear, professional communication skills and the ability to build effective working relationships across departments.
• Ability to manage changing priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ERP systems. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or other Dynamics 365 ERP experience is preferred.
• Lean Manufacturing experience preferred.
• Facility startup or production ramp-up experience is a plus.

Our culture

We value Integrity, Trust, Creativity and Courage, Teamwork, and Excellence. Our leaders encourage respectful communication, listen to employee ideas and concerns, protect confidentiality, and work across departments to improve efficiency and quality.

Working conditions and attendance

• On-site work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Regular, consistent attendance is mandatory.
• Extended periods of standing and walking, with occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds.
• Duties may involve reaching, bending, stooping, twisting, kneeling, crouching, and using stairs.
• Exposure to noise and varying temperatures.
• Approximately 5–10% travel to other locations.
• Essential functions may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

Salary Range

$85,000–$105,000 5% quarterly bonus.

Attendance Requirements

Attendance on a regular, consistent basis is mandatory. Accommodations: Essential functions of this position may include but are not limited to lifting, reaching, bending, stooping, twisting, kneeling, crouching, carrying objects, ascending/descending stairs and commuting to work location. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential job functions under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) or other state or federal law, you may request the accommodation below. Accommodations requested:

Position Requirements

• Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time
• Shift First
• Position Material Operations Manager- Indy
• Division Steel & O'Brien Manufacturing
• Exempt/Non-Exempt Exempt
• Location Indy DCC

This position is currently accepting applications.