Director of Materials Management

Director of Materials Management

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Company Overview:
This industrial manufacturing organization is known for its stability, strong leadership, and financial health. The company is expanding through globalization and operational growth. This newly-created role presents an exciting opportunity to join during a period of transformative change and growth.

Role Summary:
Reporting to the EVP of Operations, the Director of Materials Management will develop and execute the global strategy for materials and supply chain initiatives. This leader will oversee supply chain and demand planning functions across EMEA, APAC, and the USA, driving operational excellence through technology, data, and process optimization. The role will focus on inventory optimization, S&OP processes, and cross-regional coordination while leading a team of 10-15 direct and indirect reports.

The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership, technical expertise, and an executive presence, capable of aligning materials management with the company's broader business objectives.

What You Will Do:

Strategic Leadership

• Define and execute global supply chain and materials management strategies to meet business objectives.
• Drive improvements in demand planning, supply planning, production scheduling, and inventory management.
• Develop and implement S&OP processes that enhance efficiency and support business growth across multiple regions and product lines.
• Collaborate with business units, including Sales, Marketing, Procurement, and Logistics, to ensure alignment of materials strategies with organizational goals.
• Analyze and present supply chain performance data to executive leadership, demonstrating the impact of materials management on the company's bottom line.

Technology and Process Optimization

• Evaluate and implement technologies, including ERP systems (Oracle, SAP, or similar), inventory optimization tools, and data-driven decision-making systems.
• Partner with IT to enhance technology platforms supporting materials and supply chain functions.
• Leverage advanced tools to create smarter, more efficient business processes.

Team and Financial Management

• Lead and mentor a team of supply and demand planning professionals, including two direct reports.
• Establish clear goals and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Manage an annual materials management budget, ensuring resource alignment with strategic priorities.

Global Operations Oversight

• Oversee materials management functions across the USA, EMEA, and APAC.
• Drive decision-making for supply chain improvements and manage relationships with key stakeholders across multiple regions.
• Travel approximately 20% domestically and internationally to assess and optimize global operations.

What You Bring:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, or a related field (Master's preferred).
• Certifications: APICS Certification or equivalent is a plus.
• Experience:
  • 10+ years in materials management or supply chain functions, with global operations experience.
  • Proven track record in demand planning, inventory optimization, and S&OP processes.
  • Strong leadership skills with 5+ years of team management experience.
• Technical Expertise:
  • Proficiency in ERP systems (Oracle, SAP, or similar) and inventory optimization software.
  • Experience with system implementation and data-driven decision-making.
• Soft Skills:
  • Executive presence with the ability to communicate complex ideas through data and articulate strategies to senior leadership.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
  • Collaborative and cross-functional team orientation.

Compensation and Benefits:

• $160,000 - $180,000 base salary
• Bonus potential: 20%
• Stock options and potential sign-on bonus.
• Comprehensive benefits package.