Team Lead Materials Management

Zoetis, Inc; Charles City (IA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Zoetis is seeking a Team Lead Materials Management at our Charles City site to oversee day-to-day planning, scheduling, and direct materials readiness for biological vaccine supply. You will lead cross-functional teams, drive risk mitigation, and coordinate S&OP/IBP inputs to balance supply with production needs.

You will manage inventory health, supplier coordination, and process improvements while guiding a team of planners/buyers in a regulated manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Exceptional communication (written and verbal) in English; tailor messages to shop-floor partners, peers, and stakeholders.
• Strong collaboration and influence: lead through cross-functional teams and facilitate decisions; resolve conflicts constructively.
• Advanced Excel: build/maintain analytical tools and dashboards (pivots, lookups, structured formulas) to manage exceptions.
• Strong analytical and structured problem‑solving skills (trend analysis, scenario planning, root cause/corrective action).
• Knowledge of product flow through Manufacturing and the impacts of quality/release processes on supply.
• Knowledge of manufacturing capabilities/constraints and translating them into realistic plans.
• Working knowledge of SAP, MPS, MRP, and inventory management principles.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complexity across a broad product portfolio.
• Strong organization, prioritization, and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Respond to customer inquiries and order status needs in coordination with planning/ scheduling/ customer interface manager.
• Identify long-term obstacles to production and lead cross-functional mitigation plans with clear owners, actions, and timelines.
• Coordinate and execute S&OP/IBP inputs including new product introductions and capacity planning.
• Review inventory alerts and drive corrective actions to stabilize supply and improve inventory health.
• Lead the process order cycle with the planning team and monitor resource utilization.
• Lead ordering for all direct materials and intercompany needs; ensure timely receipt and readiness through coordination.
• Aid in timely release of production lots by coordinating with Quality and Operations.
• Promote continuous improvement using KPIs and standard work; reduce expediting and repeat issues.
• Develop team members for growth; foster ownership culture among planners/buyers.

Skills

Exceptional communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Advanced Excel

Analytical thinking

Leadership

Tools

SAP

MRP

MPS

Inventory management

Job description

The Team Lead Materials Management ensures a high level of performance at the Charles City Site in the supply of biological vaccines. This role leads day‑to‑day execution and continuous improvement of planning, scheduling, and direct materials readiness to protect customer supply and production efficiency. The Team Lead is a proactive, collaborative leader who identifies risks early (3‑24 months), brings options and recommendations, and aligns cross‑functional partners (Operations, Quality, Process Teams, and the Supply Chain Network) to resolve issues before they impact production.

Conducts all activities and makes decisions in accordance with Company policies & SOPs, Zoetis Core Beliefs, global regulatory guidelines (including cGMP/cGLP/cGCP), and environmental guidelines, as appropriate.

Position Responsibilities

• Customer & network partnership: Respond to customer inquiries and order status needs (ship dates, order changes, availability, loads, on‑hand, item # changes) in coordination with the Planning/Scheduling/Customer Interface Manager; communicate constraints, tradeoffs, and recovery plans clearly and professionally.
• Forward‑looking risk management: Identify long‑term obstacles to production and supply (lead time shifts, supplier constraints, distressed/aging inventory, quality holds, change controls, capacity bottlenecks) and lead cross‑functional mitigation plans with clear owners, actions, and timelines.
• S&OP / IBP / S&OE execution: Coordinate and execute S&OP/IBP inputs including new product introductions, long‑term capacity planning, inventory strategy/targets, and budget planning; use scenario planning to support decisions.
• Inventory exception management: Review inventory alerts/exceptions (low/high stock, excess/slow‑moving, constrained items) through S&OE and IBP; drive corrective actions to stabilize supply and improve inventory health.
• Planning leadership & parameter governance: Lead the process order cycle with the planning team and manufacturing; determine and maintain process‑specific planning parameters, run/analyze scenarios as needed, and monitor/manage resource utilization (shifts, headcount, overtime).
• Materials ordering & readiness: Lead ordering for all direct materials and intercompany needs; ensure timely receipt and readiness for use through strong supplier/internal coordination, prioritization, and issue escalation.
• Lot release enablement: Aid in ensuring timely release of production lots through coordination with Quality, Operations, and Process Teams (e.g., driving timely closure of investigations and change controls that impact supply).
• Continuous improvement & KPI ownership: Promote a culture of continuous improvement using KPIs, standard work, and system/process enhancements; reduce expediting and prevent repeat issues through root‑cause problem solving.
• People leadership: Develop team members for growth; set clear expectations, coach problem‑solving and communication, and build an ownership culture where planners/buyers partner effectively with peers.

Behavioral Expectations

• Brings issues early with data, options, and a recommended path—no "surprises."
• Builds trust with peers; solves problems collaboratively rather than "throwing problems over the wall."
• Thinks 3 steps ahead (lead times, quality release risk, supplier constraints) and drives preventive actions.

Technical Skills and Competencies Required

• Exceptional communication (written and verbal) in English; can tailor messages to shop‑floor partners, peers, and customers/network stakeholders.
• Strong collaboration and influence: Demonstrated ability to lead through peers/cross‑functional teams and facilitate decisions; resolves conflict constructively and drives alignment.
• Advanced Excel proficiency (required): comfortable building/maintaining analytical tools and dashboards (e.g., pivots, lookups, structured formulas) to manage exceptions and support planning decisions.
• Strong analytical and structured problem‑solving skills (trend analysis, scenario planning, root cause/corrective action).
• Knowledge of product flow through Manufacturing and the impacts of quality/release processes on supply.
• Knowledge of manufacturing capabilities/constraints and how to translate them into realistic plans.
• Working knowledge of SAP, MPS, MRP, and inventory management principles.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complexity across a broad product portfolio.
• Strong organization, prioritization, and negotiation skills.

Preferred Candidate Qualifications

• Proficient in Zoetis Supply Operating Model and SAP.
• Experience managing Distressed Inventory (prevention, disposition coordination, and strategy to reduce recurrence).
• Experience partnering in regulated manufacturing environments (e.g., biologics/pharma) where quality systems and compliance timelines impact supply.

Physical Requirements

• This position requires sitting and working on a computer for long periods of time.
• Must be able to walk, sit, or stand for long periods of time.
• Must be able to work scheduled 40 hours with the ability to work more as needed.
• Repetitive motion and substantial movement of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

Zoetis is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status or any other protected classification. Disabled individuals are given an equal opportunity to use our online application system. We offer reasonable accommodations as an alternative if requested by an individual with a disability. Please contact Zoetis Colleague Services at [e-mail] to request an accommodation. Zoetis also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act. All applicants must possess or obtain authorization to work in the US for Zoetis. Zoetis retains sole and exclusive discretion to pursue sponsorship for the acquisition or maintenance of nonimmigrant status and employment eligibility, considering factors such as availability of qualified US workers. Individuals requiring sponsorship must disclose this fact. Please note that Zoetis seeks information related to job applications from candidates for jobs in the U.S. solely via the following: (1) our company website at www.Zoetis.com/careers site, or (2) via email to/from addresses using only the Zoetis domain of "@zoetis.com". In addition, Zoetis does not use Google Hangout for any recruitment related activities. Any solicitation or request for information related to job applications with Zoetis via any other means and/or utilizing email addresses with any other domain should be disregarded. In addition, Zoetis will never ask candidates to make any type of personal financial investment related to gaining employment with Zoetis.