Title:  Department Manager

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

The Material Manager is responsible for optimizing all aspects of the site supply chain and materials management functions to ensure uninterrupted production, customer satisfaction and inventory optimization. This position oversees production planning, materials planning, procurement, inventory control, warehousing, logistics, trade compliance, and supplier performance management.

The role serves as a key role of the plant leadership team and works closely with other multiple teams, such as sales team, product line management team, and production team to support operational objectives, business growth, and continuous improvement initiatives.

DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Supply Chain Planning & Materials Management

• Lead Sales, Inventory and Operations Planning (S&OP) activities to balance customer demand, production capacity, and inventory levels.
• Manage Material Requirements Planning (MRP) processes to ensure timely availability of raw materials, components, and finished goods.
• Develop and maintain production and material plans that support customer delivery commitments and operational efficiency.
• Monitor demand fluctuations and proactively adjust supply plans to minimize shortages and excess inventory.
• Establish inventory strategies that support customer requirements while optimizing working capital.

Procurement & Supplier Management

• Lead purchasing activities for direct and indirect materials in accordance with company policies and business objectives.
• Develop sourcing strategies to ensure supply continuity, cost competitiveness, and risk mitigation.
• Manage supplier selection, qualification, performance evaluation, and development programs.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, delivery terms, and service agreements with suppliers.
• Establish supplier performance metrics and drive continuous improvement in quality, delivery, responsiveness, and cost.

Inventory & Warehouse Management

• Ensure accurate inventory records through effective cycle counting, physical inventory programs, and inventory control processes.
• Optimize inventory levels to improve inventory turns while maintaining required service levels.
• Oversee warehouse operations including receiving, storage, material handling, and shipping activities.
• Implement best practices to improve inventory accuracy, warehouse productivity, and space utilization.
• Drive excess and obsolete inventory reduction initiatives.

Logistics & Trade Compliance

• Manage domestic and international transportation activities to achieve cost-effective and reliable product delivery.
• Ensure compliance with import/export regulations, customs requirements, and trade compliance standards.
• Coordinate with logistics providers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, and government agencies.
• Evaluate transportation performance and identify opportunities for service and cost improvements.

Capacity Planning & Resource Optimization

• Collaborate with cross-department teams to develop capacity expansion plans, workforce planning, and equipment investment recommendations.

Leadership, Communication & Organizational Development

• Lead, coach, and develop planning, purchasing, warehouse, and logistics personnel.
• Establish department objectives aligned with plant and corporate goals.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide regular feedback to team members.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, continuous learning, and operational excellence.
• Build succession plans and talent development initiatives within the department.
• Work with other teams, such as sales team, product line management team, and production team to support operational objectives, business growth, and continuous improvement initiatives

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

Leadership, negotiation, cross-functional collaboration, problem solving, communication, supplier relationship management.

COMMUNICATIONS:

ORAL: Excellent skills required to effectively communicate concepts, plans and initiatives with various levels of management within and outside the company.

WRITTEN: Excellent skills required to effectively develop and present proposals, ideas, concepts, reports, training programs and solutions and document processes and action plans.

LANGUAGES: Must be fluent bi-lingual in both verbal and written English and Chinese

PROJECT MANAGEMENT, SCHEDULING AND PLANNING:

Material and production planning, capacity planning projects, MRP, NPI support, inventory optimization and supplier development

BASIC JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Education

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business administration, industrial engineering, logistics, operations management, or related field. Master's degree is preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 12 years of supply chain, materials, procurement, or operations experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 8 years of people management experience.
• Material planning experience in production environment is highly preferred.

Technical Competencies

• Strong knowledge of MRP, ERP, inventory control, procurement, warehousing, and logistics management.
• Hands-on experience with SAP systems.
• Experience with SAC system is preferred.
• Strong understanding of forecasting, demand planning, capacity planning, and S&OP processes.
• Knowledge of international trade regulations, customs procedures, and import/export compliance.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis tools.

ADDITIONAL  INFORMATION:

• The role’s key objectives may include, but not limited to manage on-time delivery, inventory turns, inventory accuracy, excess and obsolete inventory, supplier quality performance, cost reduction, purchase price variance, material availability, and lead time improvement.
• Having SAC system experiences is a huge plus