Materials Manager

The Materials Manager is responsible for the tactical execution of procurement, purchasing follow-up, inventory accuracy, material transactions, and material movement to support production requirements and customer commitments in an aerospace manufacturing environment. This role manages daily materials activities including purchase order execution, supplier commitment management, expediting, inventory control, material availability, traceability documentation follow-up, and timely resolution of material shortages. The Materials Manager works closely with supply chain manager, production, quality, business unit teams, and supply chain specialists to remove material constraints, maintain audit-ready inventory records, and drive disciplined execution, accountability, and urgency in support of operational performance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manages daily tactical materials operations to support established production requirements, customer delivery commitments, and business unit priorities.
• Oversees procurement execution, including purchase order placement, supplier follow-up, order acknowledgment, expediting, and resolution of late or constrained material.
• Drives supplier commitment management by ensuring purchase order acknowledgments, promise dates, delivery updates, and recovery plans are maintained accurately and communicated to internal stakeholders.
• Reviews open requisitions, purchase order status, shortage reports, and supplier commitments to ensure timely conversion, follow-up, and closure of material actions.
• Leads daily shortage review activity with Supply Chain Specialists to identify production-impacting material constraints, assign recovery actions, and track closure through supplier follow-up or internal transaction correction.
• Maintains inventory accuracy through disciplined material transactions, cycle count oversight, discrepancy resolution, and corrective actions within ERP/MRP systems.
• Maintains audit-ready inventory records by ensuring cycle count results, transaction corrections, discrepancy resolution, and material adjustments are documented accurately and in a timely manner.
• Coordinates with suppliers, quality, and internal teams to resolve missing or inaccurate material documentation, certification, traceability, and purchase order documentation issues that may impact production or material use.
• Ensures procurement, inventory, and material transaction activities are performed in accordance with applicable aerospace quality requirements, AS9100 procedures, export control requirements, and company policies.
• Supports production priorities by ensuring material availability, purchase order execution, supplier recovery actions, and inventory transactions are completed in alignment with established production requirements.
• Coordinates material movement, part availability, shortage mitigation, and prioritization of critical material requirements to support shop floor execution.
• Escalates supplier delays, inventory discrepancies, shortages, documentation gaps, and purchase order risks in a timely manner to support production continuity and customer commitments.
• Monitors tactical materials metrics including purchase order past due status, supplier delivery performance, shortage aging, inventory accuracy, cycle count results, inventory discrepancies, and open material actions to drive accountability and corrective action.
• Negotiates pricing, delivery commitments, and purchase order terms with suppliers and vendors within assigned scope of responsibility.
• Implements and monitors supplier follow-up routines to improve purchase order responsiveness, delivery performance, and material flow to production.
• Performs inventory reviews and supports write-offs or disposition actions for damaged, obsolete, or excess inventory to maintain accurate inventory valuation.
• Oversees cycle count activity, inventory corrections, root cause review, and corrective actions related to recurring inventory discrepancies.
• Communicates daily with Business Units, production personnel, quality, and internal support functions regarding part status, shortage recovery, supplier commitments, documentation issues, and material risks.
• Provides hands-on support for escalated material issues, including supplier expedites, ERP/MRP transaction corrections, purchase order delays, documentation follow-up, and production-impacting shortages.
• Directs the daily work of Supply Chain Specialists by assigning procurement, supplier follow-up, shortage recovery, documentation follow-up, and inventory control actions based on production priorities and material risk.
• Develops and maintains standard work, follow-up methods, and daily management routines to improve procurement execution, inventory accuracy, material accountability, and shortage recovery.
• Provides input on material-related resource needs, process gaps, and recurring execution issues that may impact procurement execution, inventory accuracy, or production support.
• Recruits, manages, motivates, and develops Supply Chain Specialists to ensure individual accountability, responsiveness, and team effectiveness.
• Maintains skills matrices and identifies training needs to ensure Supply Chain Specialists have the necessary range of procurement, inventory, ERP/MRP, documentation, and communication skills.
• Ensures effective upward and downward communication so that material risks, supplier issues, production impacts, documentation gaps, and recovery actions are communicated in a timely manner.
• Implements initiatives to continuously improve tactical material responsiveness, purchase order execution, inventory discipline, shortage recovery, and production support.
• Supports and fosters the growth and professional development of direct reports.
• Develops a performance-oriented work environment encompassing timely performance appraisals, reviews for new employees, and timely disciplinary or corrective actions.
• Develops a work environment that fosters open and honest communications to continuously instill confidence and credibility by actively engaging the workforce.
• Leads by example while exhibiting enthusiasm and encouraging a sense of urgency, bias for action, and follow-through to completion.
• Performs other duties as may be assigned.

Eligibility Requirements

This role is restricted to U.S. persons (i.e., U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and other protected individuals under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)) due to access to export-controlled technology. Whippany Actuation Systems will require proof of status before employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent organizational, follow-up, and execution skills
• Experience in an aerospace manufacturing environment
• Experience with ISO 9001 or AS9100 requirements
• Experience supporting supplier documentation, certification, traceability, and audit-ready material records
• Proficient with inventory reporting systems and ERP systems
• Highly proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel
• APICS certification is preferred.
• Strong written, verbal and cross functional communications skills
• Ability to work in a fast paced business team environment.
• Bias for action. Ability to spontaneously recognize problems and opportunities. Ability to drive problem resolution and follow through to completion.
• Results oriented. Drives to achieve both short- and long-term goals.
• Customer focused. Driven to meet the needs of both internal and external customers.

Must be a hands-on type of leader, able to interface on the shop floor, along with senior leadership and customers - all equally well.

Compensation and Benefits:
The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $120,000 to $150,000 per year. Final pay determinations will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to, experience level, knowledge, skills, and abilities. If hired, the employee will be in an "at-will position."

At Whippany Actuation Systems, we believe that our success can only be credited to the hard work and dedication of our employees. To support our employees, we offer a variety of benefit options so they can choose the coverage based on what is important to their unique lifestyle. These include medical, dental, vision, ID protection, legal insurance, pet insurance, tuition assistance program, and an employee assistance program. In addition, we provide 401K with immediate company match, life insurance, AD&D coverage, and short- and long-term disability benefits. Lastly, active employees are eligible for generous paid time off including 12 paid holidays, vacation, and sick/personal time.

Our Commitment:

Whippany Actuation Systems is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Individuals who have a disability and would like to request accommodation with regard to the application and selection process (i.e. the online application or interviews) or have questions regarding our website accessibility, may call 973-560-6662.