Job Description

Materials, Planning, and Logistics Manager
Location: Lexington, NC

Position Overview
A leading North American manufacturer of engineering and fabrication solutions is seeking an experienced Materials, Planning, and Logistics (MP&L) Manager to lead plant-wide material flow, inventory management, production scheduling, procurement, and logistics. Reporting directly to plant leadership, this role manages a cross-functional team of 11 direct reports and applies Lean manufacturing principles to streamline material movement, eliminate waste, and ensure reliable on-time delivery in a low-volume, high-mix environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic materials planning aligned with production schedules, customer demand, and inventory targets.
• Oversee materials department personnel, including buyers, planners, schedulers, forecasters, inventory clerks, warehouse supervisors, and customer service staff.
• Direct internal plant logistics, shipping/receiving, warehousing, and exterior/offsite warehouse material storage and transport activities.
• Manage raw materials, work-in-progress (WIP), and finished goods inventory levels through cycle counting and stock optimization.
• Source and negotiate with suppliers for raw materials and components while tracking vendor performance and quality.
• Collaborate with production to align scheduling with material availability, capacity constraints, and operational goals.
• Implement Lean tools—including VSM, Kanban, JIT, 5S, standard work, and Kaizen—to improve inventory turns, reduce lead times, and optimize workflow.
• Track department KPIs (inventory turnover, schedule adherence, freight costs, on-time delivery) and drive root-cause problem solving.
• Ensure all material handling and logistics activities comply with environmental, quality (IATF, ISO 14001), and safety standards.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in materials planning, logistics, purchasing, or supply chain leadership within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven supervisory experience managing cross-functional supply chain and warehousing teams.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience applying Lean manufacturing tools (Kanban, VSM, JIT, 5S, Kaizen, visual management).
• Experience managing inventory, scheduling, and logistics, including offsite or exterior warehouse facilities.
• Strong proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and inventory control practices.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and supplier negotiation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in metal fabrication, heavy industrial manufacturing, or complex assembly environments.
• Experience with CMS / AS400 ERP platforms.
• Working knowledge of quality and environmental compliance systems (IATF 16949, ISO 14001).

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