Materials Planning Director

Job DescriptionPosition OverviewWe are seeking a high-caliber Materials Planning Director to serve as the operational backbone of our inventory planning and working capital strategy across our industrial manufacturing platform. This individual will own full-cycle materials management — from demand signal to finished goods availability — and will be held accountable to clear, measurable improvements in Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO), Excess & Obsolete (E&O) levels, and On-Time Delivery (OTD).This is not a caretaker role. We are a PE-backed manufacturer with a strong bias for execution, and we need a leader who is energized by complexity, capable of building process where limited structure exists, and comfortable holding cross-functional teams accountable to materials discipline.The OpportunityThe right candidate will be crucial in creating the materials management function. Three specific pain points define the near-term agenda:Excess & Obsolete Inventory: Inventory segmentation is underdeveloped. A large portion of on-hand inventory is slow-moving or non-moving, tying up working capital and obscuring true availability. The Materials Manager will take ownership of a rigorous ABC/XYZ segmentation framework, establish reserve governance, and drive systematic disposition of E&O, while providing valuable insights to drive consumptions that prevent aging of materials.Inventory Accuracy & Warehouse Managemnt: Inventory accuracy is core to our business; it enables customer responsiveness and provides financial assurance to our stakeholders. The Materials Manager will cross-functionally lead cycle counting procedures that results in highest standards of accuracy and continuous improvement.Demand Planning & Forecasting: Current forecasting is largely ad hoc and reactive. The incoming leader will partner with Sales and Operations leadership to stand up a credible S&OP process, introduce statistical baseline forecasting, and reduce demand signal bias — ultimately improving material readiness without building unnecessary stock.Cross-Functional Discipline: Materials decisions are too often made in isolation from commercial commitments and financial constraints. The Materials Manager will serve as the connective tissue between Sales, Operations, Finance, and Procurement — building shared KPIs, escalation protocols, and a culture of materials accountability, while also overseeing Procurement of materials that meet or exceed on time delivery needs of our customers.Key ResponsibilitiesInventory Planning & OptimizationOwn and execute MRP/ERP-driven materials planning across all product lines and sitesImplement multi-dimensional inventory segmentation (ABC by value, XYZ by velocity) to right-size safety stock and reorder parameters leading to purchasing decisions within budgets.Lead quarterly E&O reviews with Finance; develop and execute disposition plans (liquidation, return, repurpose, write-off)Establish and monitor Inventory Reserve % targets in partnership with the ControllerDrive DIO reduction as a primary working capital KPIDemand Planning & S&OPStand up or formalize a Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, including a consensus demand review cadenceTranslate demand signals into actionable purchase plans and production schedulesManage supplier lead time variability; build buffer strategies that are data-driven, not gut-drivenWorking Capital & Financial PartnershipPartner with Finance on monthly inventory roll-forward reporting (receipts, usage, write-downs, absorption variances)Provide forward-looking inventory projections tied to production plans and customer commitmentsIdentify opportunities to reduce working capital through VMI, consignment arrangements, or supplier payment term optimizationSupport annual budgeting and periodic reforecasting for raw material and WIP inventory levelsCross-Functional LeadershipLead a weekly materials review meeting with Sales, Operations, and Procurement to align on constraint, priority, and demand changesEstablish escalation protocols for material shortages that threaten OTD commitmentsBuild accountability frameworks — scorecards, visual management, and KPI ownership — across the materials teamCoach and develop a team of Materials Planners, Buyers, and Warehouse LeadsQualificationsRequired3-5 years or more, of progressive materials management experience in a discrete manufacturing environmentDemonstrated track record of reducing E&O inventory and improving DIO in a measurable, quantifiable wayStrong ERP proficiency (Epicor, SAP, Oracle, or equivalent); must be capable of extracting and analyzing data independentlyExperience facilitating or participating in a formal S&OP processAPICS CPIM or CSCP certification, or equivalent demonstrated expertiseProven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives without direct authorityPreferredBachelors Degree from an accredited college is preferredBackground in industrial, energy, or defense-adjacent manufacturing (fittings, forgings, or machined components)Experience in a PE-backed or high-accountability operating environmentFamiliarity with VMI / consignment structures and supplier developmentExposure to ABC-XYZ inventory segmentation and reserve governance frameworksProficiency with Excel-based analytics and/or BI tools (Data Rails, Power BI, Tableau, etc.)