Materials Specialist

Salary Range 60-75k (MILSPEC Experience)

Job Brief

The Material Specialist Lead will be responsible for overseeing all material-related operations, ensuring seamless integration of procurement, inventory management, and production planning. As a leader, you will manage a team of material specialists and packagers, ensuring optimal material flow, cost control, and compliance with industry standards, particularly military specifications (MILSPEC).

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction to a team of material specialists and packagers.
• Ensure the team is well-trained on best practices, material handling processes, inventory systems, and MILSPEC (military specifications) packaging standards.
• Conduct regular performance reviews, provide constructive feedback, and create action plans to address performance gaps or operational challenges.
• Oversee material planning, ensuring that all materials required for production are accurately forecasted, sourced, and available in a timely manner.
• Monitor and manage inventory levels across various product categories, ensuring the maintenance of optimal stock levels.
• Ensure all Purchase Orders (POs) are packaged in strict adherence to MILSPEC requirements.
• Proficiently utilize material management and inventory systems, including Microsoft Excel, Vendor’s Shipment Module (VSM) and Wide Area Workflow (WAWF), to effectively track and manage materials and shipments.
• Act as the primary point of contact for material related issues between departments, ensuring smooth communication and coordination among production, logistics, procurement, and other key teams.
• Coordinate with external carriers and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to ensure the timely and accurate shipment of materials.
• Analyze material handling, inventory management, and packaging processes to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Regularly prepare and present detailed reports on inventory levels, material usage, and operational performance to senior management.
• Negotiate favorable terms with suppliers, ensuring adherence to service levels, quality standards, and delivery timelines.
• Proactively identify and resolve material-related challenges, including shortages, discrepancies, and quality issues.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in material management, inventory control, or supply chain coordination, with at least 2 years in a leadership or supervisory role.
• Strong working knowledge of material planning and inventory management systems, as well as proficiency in Vendor’s Shipment Module (VSM) and Wide Area Workflow (WAWF).
• In-depth understanding of supply chain processes, procurement strategies, and logistics, with specific experience in MILSPEC packaging and defense logistics.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and manage teams effectively.
• Strong analytical abilities with exceptional attention to detail, enabling effective problem-solving and decision-making in high pressure situations.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while managing multiple competing priorities and adapting to evolving demands.