Materials Planning & Procurement Specialist

Materials Planning & Procurement Specialist

Location: Marietta, OH
Job Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire
Travel: Up to 10% for supplier visits and industry events
Starting Salary: From $60,000 per year (higher compensation may be available based on experience)

Position Overview

We are seeking a Materials Planning & Procurement Specialist to support manufacturing operations by managing both purchasing and material planning activities. This role is responsible for ensuring production has the materials needed to meet customer delivery schedules while maintaining cost-effective inventory levels.

Working closely with engineering, production, quality, logistics, and sales teams, you will coordinate the sourcing, planning, and movement of materials used in the assembly of electromechanical power distribution equipment. The position operates in an ERP/MRP-driven manufacturing environment and plays a key role in maintaining an efficient supply chain.

Products supported include Power Distribution Cabinets (PDCs), Static Transfer Switches (STS), Remote Power Panels (RPPs), and Medium/Low Voltage Switchgear assemblies.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement & Supply Chain Leadership

• Develop purchasing strategies that support manufacturing and business goals.
• Build and maintain a reliable supplier network focused on quality, delivery, and competitive pricing.
• Evaluate suppliers, manage qualification processes, and monitor ongoing performance.
• Identify opportunities to improve purchasing efficiency and reduce overall material costs.
• Support make-versus-buy decisions alongside engineering and operations teams.

Materials Planning

• Ensure raw materials, fabricated components, hardware, sheet metal, busbar stock, and electrical parts are available when needed for production.
• Coordinate with production planning and project teams to align purchasing activities with manufacturing schedules.
• Monitor supplier lead times and address material shortages before they affect operations.
• Help develop inventory strategies that balance product availability with inventory investment.
• Reduce production delays, emergency purchases, and expedited freight whenever possible.

Supplier Management

• Manage supplier relationships for metals, electrical components, fabrication services, and manufacturing materials.
• Review supplier performance related to quality, delivery, cost, and responsiveness.
• Coordinate supplier corrective actions with quality and engineering teams when necessary.
• Conduct supplier reviews, negotiations, and performance evaluations.
• Develop alternate sourcing options to reduce supply chain risk.

Cost & Purchasing Performance

• Lead initiatives to reduce purchasing costs across raw materials and manufactured components.
• Support supplier contract negotiations and pricing discussions.
• Analyze purchasing data to identify savings opportunities and improve procurement processes.
• Assist leadership in forecasting material cost trends and their impact on operations.
• Monitor market conditions affecting steel, copper, aluminum, and other key manufacturing materials.

Cross-Functional Support

• Work closely with engineering, production, planning, and project management to ensure material availability.
• Provide guidance and support for daily purchasing activities, purchase order approvals, and procurement execution.
• Resolve material issues that could impact manufacturing schedules.
• Maintain accurate purchasing, inventory, and supplier information within ERP/MRP systems.
• Participate in continuous improvement efforts that strengthen procurement and supply chain performance.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5–10 years of procurement, purchasing, or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting custom manufacturing, fabrication, or engineer-to-order operations.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing materials, including:
  • Sheet metal
  • Busbar copper and aluminum
  • Hardware
  • Electrical components
• Experience using ERP or MRP software.
• Excellent negotiation, organizational, analytical, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in electrical equipment manufacturing, sheet metal fabrication, busbar fabrication, switchgear, or other industrial manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and inventory optimization strategies.
• Experience managing supplier performance programs and corrective action activities.
• Familiarity with purchasing commodity-driven materials such as steel, copper, and aluminum.
• Experience supporting engineer-to-order (ETO) or make-to-order manufacturing operations.

What Success Looks Like

Successful candidates will contribute to:

• Fewer material shortages affecting production.
• Improved supplier quality and on-time delivery performance.
• Reduced purchasing costs and increased procurement efficiency.
• Better inventory accuracy and inventory turnover.
• Strong coordination between purchasing activities and manufacturing schedules.