Manufacturing Planning & Materials Operations Manager

Job Description

Job DescriptionAbout the Role

Picture your day starting with a quick safety huddle on the plant floor. From there, you open your MRP dashboard, scan overnight demand signals, and coordinate with the Production Scheduler, Department Managers, and our Corporate Customer Service team to lock in a plan that meets every customer promise. By mid-morning, you’re guiding a team of 9 (including a Shipping Lead and Shipper/Receivers), removing roadblocks, and coaching them through priorities in shipping, receiving, and inventory control. You report directly to the facility Operations Manager and serve as the plant’s point person for Corporate Customer Service and Sales & Operational Planning.

What You’ll Lead

• Champion plant safety programs and embed safe practices into daily routines.
• Provide hands-on leadership, training, and coaching to a 9-person logistics team.
• Own production scheduling and purchasing coordination for production materials in alignment with demand.
• Maintain the accuracy of the perpetual inventory system (MRP) and BAAN ERP data.
• Evaluate and communicate system requirements continuously; deliver daily and monthly status reports to stakeholders.
• Run daily analytics to optimize flow, troubleshoot issues, and improve throughput.
• Direct, manage, and monitor production support activities: materials, inventory control, shipping, and receiving.
• Keep inventory levels aligned with customer timelines and service targets.
• Partner with Purchasing and suppliers to schedule timely deliveries of raw materials, supplies, and consumables.
• Oversee storage and handling of consumables and finished goods, including 3PL operations.
• Execute system adjustments for damaged, obsolete, or variance inventory to maintain accurate valuation.
• Establish and lead procedures for quarterly physical inventories.
• Support the Plant Manager and Financial Analyst in building the annual budget.

Schedule & Travel

• Little to no travel required.
• Active participation in month-end activities; some dates may fall on weekends and holidays.
• Occasional evening work outside standard business hours.

What You Bring

• 5+ years in planning or materials management (required).
• Bachelor’s in Business Administration or related field (preferred).
• Experience with BAAN software (highly preferred).
• Background in an industrial/manufacturing environment (preferred).
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency creating process documentation and reports.
• Clear, influential communicator who turns data into action.
• Track record of innovative, high-impact systems solutions.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office tools.
• Proficiency in Production Planning & Scheduling.