Team Lead Materials Management

Zoetis; Charles City (IA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Zoetis in Charles City, IA seeks a Team Lead Materials Management to drive planning, scheduling, and direct materials readiness for biologics vaccines. You will lead day-to-day execution, manage S&OP/IBP inputs, and collaborate with Operations, Quality, and Process Teams to prevent supply disruptions.

The role emphasizes proactive risk management, data-driven decision making, and leadership of a diverse planning team to ensure timely product availability while complying with cGMP and Zoetis

Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive alignment.
• Advanced Excel skills to build/maintain analytics and dashboards.
• Strong analytical and structured problem-solving capabilities.
• Understanding of product flow and quality/release impact on supply.
• Knowledge of manufacturing capabilities and realistic planning.
• Experience with SAP, MPS, MRP and inventory management.

Responsibilities

• Respond to customer inquiries and order status needs in coordination with planners and managers.
• Identify long-term obstacles to production and lead cross-functional mitigation plans.
• Coordinate and execute S&OP/IBP inputs and scenario planning.
• Review inventory alerts/exceptions and drive corrective actions.
• Lead process orders, determine planning parameters, and monitor resource utilization.
• Lead direct materials ordering and readiness with internal coordination.
• Aid in timely lot release through coordination with Quality and Operations.
• Promote continuous improvement using KPIs and standard work.
• Develop team members and foster ownership culture.

Skills

Excellent communication

Collaboration & influence

Excel proficiency

Analytical & problem solving

Product flow knowledge

Manufacturing capabilities & planning

SAP/MRP/MPS knowledge

Lead cross-functional complexity

Organization & prioritization

Zoetis Supply Operating Model

Distressed Inventory management

Regulated manufacturing experience

Tools

SAP

MRP

MPS

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.
• 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.
• 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.

About Zoetis

At Zoetis, our purpose is to nurture the world and humankind by advancing care for animals. As a Fortune 500 company and the world leader in animal health, we discover, develop, manufacture and commercialize vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and other technologies for companion animals and livestock. We know our people drive our success. Our award-winning culture, built around our Core Beliefs, focuses on our colleagues' careers, connection and support. We offer competitive healthcare and retirement savings benefits, along with an array of benefits, policies and programs to support employee well-being in every sense, from health and financial wellness to family and lifestyle resources.