Summary The SWOH Unit Materials Manager is responsible for the full lifecycle management of inventory within an assigned gauge/product range, including receiving quality, inventory accuracy, supplier (mill) performance, outside processing coordination, and cross-functional coordination with Sales, Quality, Scheduling, Logistics, and Operations. This role combines traditional materials/inventory management with data-driven analysis and continuous improvement, driving proactive, upstream corrective actions rather than reactive inspection responses. Objectives

• Optimize material utilization and profitability.
• Manage inventory ratios to fulfill customer demand and prevent scheduling/processing disruptions.
• Reduce receiving-related packaging and quality claims through proactive supplier collaboration and root- cause analysis.
• Maintain data accuracy and reporting integrity across inventory, quality, claims, and outside-processing activity.
• Support a culture of continuous improvement and cross-departmental collaboration.
• Work with the Department Manager to determine when material should be downgraded, moved, or otherwise cycled through inventory.
• Assign all material in the assigned gauge range.
• Use internal and outside-processing capacity effectively to support customer demand and production requirements. Major Responsibilities / Functions
• Must be proactive in situations to stop them before they become issues. Ask for assistance from Department Manager as needed.
• Review material "on hold" from previous date(s) and collaborate with the sales team to make the best decision/risk analysis.
• Review unplanned/planned material returned to inventory from operational processes to determine the best next step/risk scenario.
• Provide timely responses to material inquiries from the sales force to maximize business opportunities.
• Manage daily master contract bucket changes and analyze high/low inventory ratios.
• Bring discrepancies to the ISR, OSR, and Commercial Manager as needed to identify and resolve issues.
• Manage sales backlogs daily in a timely manner to meet sales expectations and customer demands.
• Review and maximize profit-and-loss (P&L) performance from previous orders to understand and enhance profitability margins.
• Manage aged inventory, identifying how material can meet other applications and sales opportunities, and bring ideas to the Department Manager.
• Maintain inventory accuracy through reconciliation and ERP system data integrity.
• Coordinate with Purchasing on supplier/mill relationships, scorecards, and expedite processes.
• Review daily reports and act on opportunities, including Call Reports from the Outside Sales Department. Outside Processing Coordination
• Work with Materials, Commercial, Scheduling, and Operations to identify coils that are appropriate candidates for outside processing based on internal capacity, customer priorities, equipment capabilities, and required timing.
• Balance outside pickling activity with internal sheet-pickler capacity, increasing or reducing outside processing as operating needs and workload change.
• Create, release, and dispatch outside-processing orders and ensure processing instructions and requirements are accurate.
• Manage priorities and timing with outside vendors, including communicating changes and expediting material when customer or production requirements shift.
• Coordinate outbound pickups and inbound returns with Logistics and communicate material priorities for both directions.
• Monitor open outside-processing orders through completion and return, maintaining visibility of material status and expected timing.
• Coordinate external processing requirements including pickling, cut-to-length, slitting, edge trimming, and other outside services as needed.
• Ensure compliance with departmental SOPs, quality protocols, and applicable regulatory/customer requirements.
• Promote and maintain a safe working environment in accordance with company safety standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education / Requirements

• Bachelor's degree preferred (Business, Supply Chain, Operations, or related field); equivalent experience considered.
• Minimum of 3-5 years' sales and/or steel material experience required within the steel service center spectrum.
• Experience with inventory management and/or ERP systems.
• Working knowledge of data analysis/reporting tools (e.g., Excel, Power BI) preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; root-cause analysis experience a plus.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including cross-communication between departments and Steel Warehouse locations.
• Ability to coordinate multiple priorities across internal departments, logistics providers, and outside-processing vendors.
• Positive team attitude; always be part of the solution and work with anyone needing assistance.
• Proactive approach to problem identification and resolution.
• Familiarity with continuous improvement / Lean Six Sigma principles a plus. Work Environment / Physical Demands
• Office-based with regular presence on the production/warehouse floor.
• Occasional travel to supplier mills, outside-processing vendors, or customer sites as needed.

Pay:

From $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching 403(b) Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person