Plant Materials Manager

Leprino Foods Company; Allendale Charter Township (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries and bonuses

Life

Medical/dental/vision coverage

Voluntary benefits

Employee assistance programs

Wellness incentives

Tuition assistance

Vacation

Ten paid holidays

Sick time

Paid parental leave

Annual merit increases

Profit-Sharing & 401(k) plan

Job summary

Leprino Foods Company in Allendale, MI is seeking a Plant Materials Manager I to oversee warehouse operations and coordinate the full flow of materials that support production across the plant. This role blends leadership with materials planning, inventory coordination, and shipment scheduling to keep products moving efficiently.

You will guide shipping/receiving, schedule milk shipments, and build daily/weekly plans aligned with demand and plant capacity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in logistics, warehouse management, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years in materials and warehouse operations in a food manufacturing setting.
• 2+ years of progressive people leadership experience.
• Proficiency with standard manufacturing systems and SAP or similar platforms.

Responsibilities

• Guide shipping, receiving, and storage of finished goods, ingredients, and packaging materials.
• Coordinate milk scheduling, cream load-out, and condensed whey shipments to support production flow.
• Build daily and weekly materials and production schedules aligned with customer demand and plant capacity.
• Lead warehouse supervisors through clear expectations, routines, and collaborative problem-solving.
• Maintain accurate inventory levels and rotation practices for quality and freshness.
• Coordinate external materials and warehouse services to meet plant needs efficiently.
• Prepare and manage the Materials department budget and cost awareness.
• Maintain inventory controls supporting financial clarity and operational improvement.
• Lead safety practices within Materials and support training for safe work.
• Support quality and sanitation programs tied to materials handling.
• Build strong relationships with production, quality, finance, and plant leadership.

Skills

Materials leadership

Warehouse operations

Production planning

Team leadership

SAP knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in logistics/warehouse management

Master’s in supply chain (preferred)

Tools

SAP

ERP systems

Job description

Plant Materials Manager

Description:

Within our 300-person manufacturing facility in Allendale – Leprino is seeking a Materials Manager I to oversee warehouse operations while coordinating the full flow of materials that support production. This role blends warehouse leadership with materials planning, inventory coordination, and shipment scheduling to keep product moving efficiently across the plant.

What You’ll Do:

• Guide shipping, receiving, and storage of finished goods, ingredients, and packaging materials across the plant.
• Coordinate milk scheduling, cream load-out, and condensed whey shipments to support steady production flow.
• Build daily and weekly materials and production schedules that align with customer demand and plant capacity.
• Lead warehouse supervisors through clear expectations, consistent routines, and collaborative problem-solving.
• Maintain accurate inventory levels and rotation practices that support quality, freshness, and availability.
• Coordinate external materials and warehouse services to meet plant needs efficiently.
• Prepare and manage the Materials department budget, supporting thoughtful planning and cost awareness.
• Maintain inventory controls that support financial clarity and operational improvement.
• Lead safety practices within the Materials team and support training that helps everyone work safely.
• Support quality and sanitation programs tied to materials handling and warehouse activities.
• Build strong working relationships with production, quality, finance, and plant leadership.

You Have At Least (Required Qualifications):

• A Bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Warehouse Management, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Eight or more years of experience overseeing materials and warehouse operations within a food manufacturing environment.
• Two or more years of progressive people leadership experience.
• Proficiency with standard manufacturing systems and the ability to learn SAP or similar platforms.

We Hope You Also Have (Preferred Qualifications):

• Experience within dairy or cheese manufacturing environments.
• Direct leadership experience supporting or guiding supervisors.
• Master’s in supply chain, logistics, or operations management.

At Leprino, we believe in equal employment opportunity and make employment decisions based on each individual’s unique talents, experience, skills, and knowledge; we do not discriminate on the basis of any personal characteristics. We know we are better together and are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive culture in which all employees can thrive.

Offering You In Return:

• competitive salaries and bonuses
• life
• medical/dental/vision coverage
• voluntary benefits
• employee assistance programs
• wellness incentives
• tuition assistance
• vacation
• ten paid holidays
• sick time
• paid parental leave
• annual merit increases
• LFC Profit-Sharing & 401(k) plan

Our Story:

Leprino’s history dates back to the 1950s, when Jim Leprino first started making small batches of mozzarella for local markets and eateries in the Little Italy neighborhood of Denver. We’ve grown a bit since then. Today, Leprino is the world’s largest manufacturer of mozzarella and lactose, and a leading producer of whey protein. Still owned by the Leprino family, our sights are set to be the “World’s Best Dairy Food and Ingredient Company.” From a small corner grocery store we have grown to over 5,500 employees throughout the globe. Will you join us on our journey?

Leprino uses Psychemedics for a 90-day hair follicle drug test as part of the employee pre-employment process and also participates in E-Verify. All employees in our manufacturing facilities are required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as mandated by their role and location.Leprinosupports a drug-free workplace and is an EEO / Affrmative Action EmployerM / F / Disability / Veteran.