Materials Manager

Lanco Group of Companies; Monee (IL); On-site; USD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Life Insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Mi-Jack Products seeks a strategic Materials Manager to lead inventory control, material flow, and warehouse operations within our manufacturing facility. You will guide materials personnel, drive optimization, and improve availability while reducing excess inventory.

The role requires strong supply chain expertise, servant leadership, and a focus on continuous improvement. Collaboration across Planning, Purchasing, Engineering, and Production is essential.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in supply chain, purchasing, inventory management, materials management, or related operations.
• Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams and developing employees.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop materials supervisors and inventory teams, creating a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Drive inventory reduction initiatives while improving inventory accuracy, turns, and material availability.
• Optimize material flow and delivery using ERP/MRP systems, internal planning tools, forecasting, and BI data.
• Partner with Planning, Scheduling, Purchasing, Engineering, Production, and Supply Chain teams to improve performance.
• Respond to engineering changes to minimize obsolescence and shortages.
• Monitor and communicate inventory-related financial impacts, including obsolescence and inflationary concerns.
• Oversee warehouse operations, including slotting, bin management, storage optimization, and pick-path efficiency.
• Manage communication and issue resolution related to backorders, pricing discrepancies, damaged materials, and supplier delivery concerns.
• Establish standard operating procedures that support inventory accuracy and material movement best practices.
• Lead special projects and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance throughput and efficiency.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Data-driven decision making

Communication

Organizational skills

MS Office

Education

High School Diploma

Associate Degree

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Power BI

Job description

Mi-Jack Products is seeking a strategic and hands-on Materials Manager to lead inventory management, material flow, warehouse operations, and materials personnel within our manufacturing facility. This role is responsible for driving inventory optimization, improving material availability, reducing excess inventory, and ensuring efficient material movement throughout the operation. The ideal candidate combines strong supply chain expertise with a servant leadership mindset and a passion for continuous improvement.

What You'll Do

• Lead and develop materials supervisors and inventory teams, creating a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Drive inventory reduction initiatives while improving inventory accuracy, turns, and material availability.
• Optimize material flow and delivery using ERP/MRP systems, internal planning tools, forecasting, and business intelligence data.
• Partner closely with Planning, Scheduling, Purchasing, Engineering, Production, and Supply Chain teams to improve operational performance.
• Respond proactively to engineering changes to minimize inventory obsolescence and material shortages.
• Monitor and communicate inventory-related financial impacts, including obsolescence and inflationary concerns.
• Oversee warehouse operations, including slotting strategies, bin management, storage optimization, and pick-path efficiency.
• Manage communication and issue resolution related to backorders, pricing discrepancies, damaged materials, and supplier delivery concerns.
• Establish and maintain standard operating procedures that support inventory accuracy and material movement best practices.
• Lead special projects and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance throughput and operational efficiency.

What We're Looking For

• Think strategically while remaining engaged in day-to-day operations.
• Use data to identify opportunities and drive decision‑making.
• Build strong cross‑functional partnerships across the organization.
• Lead teams through change while maintaining focus on safety, quality, and customer needs.
• Continuously seek opportunities to improve processes, inventory performance, and operational efficiency.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma, Associate Degree, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in supply chain, purchasing, inventory management, materials management, or related operations.
• Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams and developing employees.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business Management, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in supply chain, purchasing, inventory management, and ERP systems.
• Experience within a large‑scale OEM or heavy equipment manufacturing environment.
• Experience using Power BI or other data visualization and reporting tools.

COMPENSATION/BENEFITS

We foster a collaborative team environment that values innovation and encourages creative solutions to drive positive organizational impact. Our employees are the key to our success and help us stand out from our competitors. The pay range for this position is $95,000- $120,000 per year. The final compensation offer may vary based on factors such as experience, education, skills, and location. We offer competitive pay, paid time off, and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan.

Lanco is an equal opportunity employer. All employment‑related decisions, including but not limited to hiring, compensation, promotion, discipline (including termination), evaluation, training and development opportunities, etc., are made without discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender‑related identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, military status, protected disability, citizenship, genetic information or any other category protected by applicable law.