Materials Manager Needed in Camarillo (in person)
Industry: Aerospace
Reports To: VP of Operations
Direct Hire
Pay Range: $140,000 - $160,000 yearly
Summary
The Materials Manager leads the Materials Business Unit Team within an AS9100-certified aerospace and defense manufacturing environment. This position requires demonstrated leadership experience and technical depth in procurement, supply chain management, and production planning to co-manage a business unit team of buyers and planners.
The Materials Manager is accountable for securing a compliant, qualified, and cost-effective supply base; driving on-time delivery to customers; and managing inventory investment in a low-volume/high-mix, long-lead-time aerospace environment. This role requires a collaborative, team-oriented leader capable of making a measurable strategic impact on the business's bottom line through procurement and planning performance, while maintaining strict adherence to AS9100, ITAR, and customer flow-down requirements.
Position Duties
Essential functions of the position include, but are not limited to:
Cross-functional Leadership
* Co-manage business unit buyers and planners, including hiring, training, performance management, and development of the materials team.
* Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, and Engineering Managers to meet the material requirements of assigned product lines.
* Establish and execute KPIs for Buyers and Planners to ensure on-time delivery of components both from suppliers and to customers (supplier OTD, customer OTD, past-due backlog, inventory turns, PPV, MRP action message aging).
* Work hand-in-hand with Production Managers to ensure product line material requirements are met and shortages are escalated and resolved.
* Partner with Quality and Engineering on supplier corrective actions (SCARs), material review board (MRB) dispositions, and resolution of nonconforming supplier material.
* Interface with Contracts, Program Management, and Finance on proposal support, should-cost analysis, and make-vs-buy decisions.
Aerospace Supply Chain & Compliance
* Maintain the Approved Supplier List (ASL) in accordance with AS9100 requirements, including supplier qualification, approval, periodic performance monitoring, re-evaluation, and disqualification.
* Ensure accurate and complete flow-down of customer, regulatory, and quality requirements to suppliers and sub-tier suppliers, including drawing revisions, specifications, First Article Inspection (AS9102), Certificates of Conformance, and material/process traceability.
* Support compliance with counterfeit part avoidance and detection requirements, including use of franchised and authorized distributors, procurement of obsolete/EOL components, and documented sourcing justification.
* Ensure procurement activity complies with ITAR/EAR export control requirements, FAR/DFARS flow-downs, Buy American/Trade Agreements Act, conflict minerals, and REACH/RoHS reporting as applicable.
* Support internal, customer, and registrar audits (AS9100, customer source surveys, DCMA) by providing purchasing, planning, and supplier records; own and close assigned audit findings within required timelines.
* Maintain purchasing records, retention, and documented procedures and applicable customer contract requirements.
Strategic Analysis
* Implement improved and robust production planning, including master scheduling inputs, MRP parameter governance (lead times, safety stock, lot sizing, reorder points), and capacity-aligned material release.
* Support product line material cost reduction programs and initiate material cost savings; track and report realized savings against annual targets.
* Create and execute Long-Term Agreements (LTAs), blanket orders, and kanban/VMI arrangements with business unit key suppliers to improve cost, lead time, and delivery performance.
* Evaluate and mitigate supply chain risk, including single/sole-source exposure, financial health of critical suppliers, obsolescence and diminishing manufacturing sources (DMSMS), geopolitical and tariff exposure, long-lead raw material (forgings, castings, titanium, specialty alloys) availability, and capacity constraints at NADCAP-accredited special process houses.
* Develop and maintain contingency and dual-source strategies for critical and sole-source commodities; lead second-source qualification efforts in coordination with Engineering and Quality.
* Manage inventory investment, excess and obsolete (E&O) reserves, slow-moving stock dispositions, and cycle count/inventory accuracy programs.
* Provide input to annual operating plans, material budgets, and proposal pricing.
Continuous Improvements
* Maintain a safe, organized, productive, and efficient work environment, including compliance with FOD prevention, ESD control, shelf-life management, and material handling/storage requirements.
* Champion a culture of safety, quality, ethics, and product/process integrity.
* Perform additional duties as assigned by the VP of Operations.
General
* Maintain a safe, organized, productive, and efficient work environment, including compliance with shelf-life management, and material handling/storage requirements.
* Champion a culture of safety, quality, ethics, and product/process integrity.
* Perform additional duties as assigned by the VP of Operations.
Qualifications
* Bachelor's degree in a related field of study required (business, supply chain, engineering, finance, etc.).
* 5+ years of experience in materials (purchasing, planning, supply chain, etc.).
* 2+ years of supervisory/management experience.
* Experience working with material-related transactions in an MRP/ERP system; MAPICS/AS400 experience strongly preferred.
* Experience with Microsoft Office applications.
* Working knowledge of ITAR/EAR export control requirements.
* A self-motivated team player who can take action with minimal direction.
* Experience leading a team to accomplish goals in a dynamic working environment.
* Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present data and recommendations to senior leadership and customers.
* Demonstrated ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, bills of material, specifications, and purchase order terms and conditions.
Preferred Qualifications
* Master's degree in a related field of study (business, engineering, finance, supply chain, etc.).
* Experience in an AS9100-certified aerospace, defense, or other regulated manufacturing environment.
* Working knowledge of AS9100, AS9145/APQP, and NADCAP special processes.
* Familiarity with FAR/DFARS procurement requirements, government contracting, and DPAS-rated orders.
* Experience sourcing machined components, castings/forgings, raw metals, electronic components, and outside processing (heat treat, plating, NDT, painting).
* Experience with advanced applications of Excel.
* Experience negotiating and administering Long-Term Agreements and supplier contracts.
* APICS certification.
* Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher).
Competencies
* Leadership and team development
* Negotiation and supplier relationship management
* Analytical and data-driven decision making
* Cross-functional collaboration and influence
* Sense of urgency, ownership, and accountability
* Integrity and ethical business conduct
* Adaptability in a high-mix, change-driven environment
Physical Demands
* Physical Activity: Regularly requires standing and use of hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, and controls; frequently requires walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching with hands and arms, and climbing or balancing
* Lifting: Occasionally lifts and/or moves items up to 50 pounds
* Work Environment: Regularly works in both office and manufacturing environments; may be exposed to moving mechanical parts, noise, fumes, and airborne particles. Personal protective equipment (safety glasses, hearing protection, safety footwear) is required in designated areas.
* Representative Demands: The physical requirements listed reflect the necessity to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these functions
* Travel & Availability: Occasional travel of approximately 25-50% is expected. Must be available to respond to off-shift and emergency situations as business needs dictate.
* Schedule: Monday - Friday; The position is full-time onsite. May require extended hours and occasional weekend work to support business needs.
Other
Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, or military or veteran status. We consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act, City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.