Global Materials Leader

Job Description

Job Description

The Global Materials Leader is a pivotal cross-functional role responsible for transforming how the company manages inventory and material flow across the enterprise. This individual will lead the development & application of integrated material planning processes—from Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) through to site-level execution—and will drive the organization toward lean, consumption-based planning and purchasing models.

This leader is accountable for creating a standardized materials management framework that reduces reliance on traditional forecast-driven MRP and instead implements systems such as Kanban, Min/Max, and visual management to optimize inventory turns, reduce working capital, and improve on-time delivery. The role requires a high degree of operational credibility, a bias for action, and the ability to influence globally distributed teams to adopt lean practices and challenge legacy processes.

Essential Duties

Strategic Leadership & Transformation

• Build and deploy a globally aligned material planning and inventory management system based on lean and consumption-driven principles.
• Lead the transformation from forecast/MRP-based systems to consumption-based replenishment (Kanban, Min/Max) across all sites.
• Serve as the global inventory KPI owner & deployment of best practices for material planning and inventory optimization aligned with site & corporate objectives.

S&OP and Demand/Supply Planning

• Continue the development of S&OP maturity across the company, focusing on alignment between demand, supply, and financial planning.
• Facilitate monthly demand aggregation and consensus planning, driving inputs that support both strategic and tactical decisions.
• Translate long-term demand forecasts into actionable material and capacity plans, with site-level accountability.

Site-Level Material Planning Enablement

• Partner with factory leaders and value stream teams to strengthen on-site planning discipline, capability, and process standardization.
• Establish and deploy visual management and replenishment systems tailored to the needs of each site.
• Create feedback loops between floor-level execution and global demand/supply planning functions.

Change Management & Capability Development

• Influence and coach cross-functional teams to adopt lean material management methods.
• Drive change through leadership, not authority—building trust and buy-in across functions.
• Mentor material planners and S&OP leaders globally to develop a pipeline of talent and knowledge in lean material management.

Essential Requirements

• Strategic thinker, strong analytical skills, able to synthesize considerable and complex data.
• Various ERP and MS Excel spreadsheet expertise in managing procurement and planning analytics.
• Solid, proven organizational, project management and leadership skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal/written communication skills; can effectively interact with all levels of management.
• Fluent in English & French (preferred not mandatory).
• Demonstrated ability to influence teams and programs across functions.
• Ability to work on multiple projects with limited direction.
• Solid working knowledge of MRP with working knowledge of SAP/LN preferred.
• Overall understanding of a manufacturing company’s operations.
• Willing to travel to US and E.U. for site engagement and coaching (up to 30%).

Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree is required, MBA is preferred.
• Minimum 10+ years of experience in materials planning, supply chain, or manufacturing operations, with demonstrated leadership in lean transformation.
• Proven success implementing consumption-based planning (e.g., Kanban, pull systems, Min/Max) in complex manufacturing environments.
• Strong understanding of ERP/MRP systems.
• Experience in multi-site global manufacturing operations; ability to work across time zones and cultures.