Materials Manager

As an innovation leader, Gates is seeking an ambitious, forward-thinking, and results-driven professional to join our global team as a Materials Manager at our Siloam Springs, Arkansas manufacturing facility.

The Materials Manager is responsible for leading all materials management functions, including purchasing, receiving, customer service, production planning, scheduling, inventory management, and tool crib operations. This role ensures the efficient flow of materials to support manufacturing while achieving safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives. The Materials Manager also promotes a strong safety culture, ensures compliance with ISO and OSHA standards, and drives continuous improvement initiatives that enhance operational performance, efficiency, and long-term competitiveness.

• Oversee all product and material control activities to support efficient plant operations.
• Lead purchasing, inventory control, production planning, scheduling, customer service, receiving, and tool crib functions.
• Manage direct reports with responsibility for performance management, employee development, and day-to-day coaching to ensure the success of the materials team.
• Lead and develop team members responsible for reviewing sales orders, customer service, production schedules, and inventory records to ensure material availability and on-time production.
• Manage material planning and inventory for discrete manufacturing operations, ensuring the efficient flow of components, subassemblies, and finished goods throughout the production process.
• Oversee inventory management for a high-volume product portfolio of 10,000+ SKUs, ensuring inventory accuracy, optimal stocking levels, and material availability while minimizing excess and obsolete inventory.
• Coordinate production planning and scheduling across multiple product families and discrete manufacturing units to meet customer demand and operational objectives.
• Assist in developing procurement policies, procedures, and departmental goals.
• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors to drive team performance and growth.
• Oversee purchasing operations to ensure quality, cost, delivery, and inventory objectives are achieved.
• Manage inventory levels to support production while maintaining plant inventory targets.
• Ensure the appropriate selection and sourcing of materials, products, and services.
• Support shipping, receiving, and inventory control to maintain efficient operations.
• Monitor material flow and inventory to meet production schedules and customer delivery requirements.
• Prepare, analyze, and distribute operational reports and performance metrics.
• Maintain accurate purchasing, inventory, and production documentation through internal ERP/MRP systems.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance materials management processes, inventory accuracy, and overall operational efficiency.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Production, Engineering, Customer Service, and Supply Chain teams to resolve material shortages, improve inventory performance, and support on-time customer delivery.

• Bachelor's degree required; Supply Chain, Operations Management, or a related field
• Minimum of 3 years of leadership experience in materials management, supply chain, purchasing, production planning, or a manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing inventory in a high-volume manufacturing environment with 10,000+ SKUs or a similarly complex product portfolio.
• Strong knowledge of materials management, inventory control, purchasing, and production planning.
• Strong understanding of discrete manufacturing processes, material planning, capacity planning, and production scheduling.
• Strong business acumen, leadership, and change management skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and ERP systems (Oracle experience preferred).
• APICS Certification in Inventory Management and/or Supply Chain Planning (CPIM/CSCP) preferred.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship.

• Full-Time
• Bonus Eligible
• Medical, Dental, Vision insurance and other voluntary benefit options:
  
  
  
  • Benefits begin on the first day of the month immediately following your date of hire
  
  
  
  
• Eligible for 3 weeks of paid vacation, additionally 8 sick days
• 11 paid holidays
• 401(k): company matching up to 6%
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Discounts
• Relocation support is available for qualified candidates open to relocating to the Siloam Springs, AR / surrounding area.