Manager, Material Planning

ABOUT THE JOB

Anduril’s Planning team is seeking a Material Planning Manager to join our team. The Planning team is responsible for planning material and builds to support rapidly iterating and building of cutting-edge defense hardware, including static equipment, mobile ground equipment, and flight vehicles. This Material Planning Manager will be at the forefront of managing a team and ensuring strategic and efficient flow of materials to support our production lines and overall business objectives. The Material Planning Manager will be responsible for managing all aspects of material planning, from forecasting and procurement to inventory control and supplier management. This strategic hire will work closely with Procurement, Manufacturing, Logistics, and various other departments to develop robust material plans that align with production demands and financial targets. This role requires a keen understanding of manufacturing processes, strong analytical skills, and the ability to manage complex data to ensure material availability, optimize inventory investment, and minimize excess.

The right person for this role has demonstrated ownership and experience solving complex operational challenges with creative solutions in a fast-paced, resource-limited environment. This person will be flexible to provide support wherever needed to ensure products are built and shipped under stringent quality standards. If you are someone who thrives in such an environment, then this role is for you!

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Develop and implement material planning strategies to ensure continuous supply and optimal inventory levels
• Oversee the Material Requirements Plan (MRP) processes and adjust plans as necessary to address production needs
• Coordinate with Procurement, Manufacturing, and Logistics to ensure timely delivery and availability of materials
• Analyze and forecast material needs based on production schedules, historical usage patterns, and future demand projections
• Lead cross-functional efforts to resolve material shortages, expediting when necessary to prevent production delays
• Implement process improvements to increase efficiency and accuracy within the material planning function
• Monitor inventory levels and take corrective actions to address discrepancies and avoid excess or obsolete stock
• Provide regular reporting on material status, risks, and performance metrics to key stakeholders and management
• Support new product introductions by ensuring material availability in line with project timelines
• Collaborate with the Supply Chain team to optimize overall planning processes and contribute to achieving the company's financial and operational goals

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field (i.e. manufacturing, engineering, analytics, computer science, etc.) or business field (i.e. finance, economics, supply chain management, business administration, marketing, etc.)
• 8+ years of experience in a supply chain or production role within a fast-paced manufacturing environment with complex mechanical and/or electrical assemblies
• 1+ years of experience managing a direct team
• Demonstrated ability to completely own complex value chains from start to finish, coordinating between multiple internal and internal parties to ensure on-time deliveries and adherence to quality standards
• Experience with ERP systems such as Oracle, Netsuite, and CRM systems like Salesforce
• Ability to demonstrate a willingness to take on substantial responsibility across supply chain, logistics, engineering, and supply planning functions with a bias towards speed and accuracy
• Strong technical expertise including ability to read technical documentation, drawings, and CAD data, understanding of a variety of hardware manufacturing processes for both electronics (PCBAs, sensor hardware, etc.) and structures/mechanisms
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
• Ability to relocate, if not already local to be onsite in Asheville, OH

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree or other higher education
• Ability to demonstrate a willingness to take on substantial responsibility across supply chain, logistics, engineering, and supply planning functions with a bias towards speed and accuracy
• Strong experience with SQL databases, including building custom queries for production and inventory metrics
• Proficiency in data analysis and reporting tools such as Tableau, Power BI, or Qlikview
• Knowledge of supply chain planning systems like Blue Yonder and best practices in demand planning, inventory management, and S&OP
• Experience with lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, six sigma principles, and big data evaluation techniques
• Proactive, able to take substantial responsibility across various functions, with a focus on speed and accuracy
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. TS clearance