Job Title: Materials Management Lead
Location: Chicago, IL
Duration: 6 Months
Overview:
We are seeking a highly skilled Materials Management Lead to oversee a team of corporate Material Managers within the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) function. The successful candidate will support the continuity of supply for direct packaging materials into production facilities, develop and maintain long-range replenishment strategies, optimize the balance between supply availability and risk of obsolescence, and drive a culture of continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities:
- Material Availability: Ensure the availability of materials through effective delivery of supplier forecasts, collaboration with suppliers, and establishing effective communications and monitoring of key touch points.
- Inventory Replenishment: Develop and implement optimal inventory replenishment strategies in coordination with Procurement, Suppliers, and Plants. Align these strategies with business unit (BU) manufacturing strategies, desired service levels, and BU risk profiles.
- Inventory Reduction Initiatives: Lead initiatives aimed at reducing inventory through optimization of SAP MRP parameters, total supply chain process improvement, and application of Lean principles.
- Procurement Collaboration: Provide input to Procurement on projected volumes, business changes, supplier performance, and contractual needs. This enables Procurement to maintain contracts that serve the BUs while minimizing total cost.
- Supply Disruption Management: Manage major supply disruptions caused by extraordinary events such as natural disasters, supplier bankruptcy, equipment failures, and major quality issues.
- Supplier Capacity and Contingency Planning: Understand supplier capacity constraints and define appropriate contingency plans to maintain supply when capacity is exceeded.
- Data Management: Maintain key data impacting job function, such as contract balances and material discontinuation.
- Commercialization Timelines: Oversee commercialization timelines and assess risks related to value engineering, new product development, and rebranding initiatives.
- Continuous Improvement: Continuously improve job processes and provide suggestions for broader improvements within the Materials Management Function.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:
- Proven leadership experience and a Bachelor's Degree in related fields such as Supply Chain Management, Operations, Procurement, Business, Engineering, or a related subject area.
- Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills, ability to work under tight timelines, and multi-tasking abilities.
- Experience with exception-based management in a fast-paced environment.
- Industry knowledge in the Food and Beverage sector.
- Comfortable leading cross-functional meetings.
- Self-starter with a proactive attitude and not afraid to ask questions.
- Ability to complete special projects and assignments as requested.
- Ability to drive strategic goals and initiatives.
Preferred Qualifications:
- APICS affiliation and/or certification.
- Experience with SAP or other ERP/Client software.
- Effective interpersonal and verbal/oral communication skills.
- Independent work ethic and ability to quickly react to priorities.
- Ability to drive strategic goals and deliver results.