The following article discusses the career path of Materials Manager. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Materials Managers.
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Job Duties
Materials managers are responsible for overseeing the distribution and intake of all materials and components that their business uses. They delegate various tasks to their team members, ensuring that tasks are completed on time. Additionally, they focus on maintaining inventory levels so that they can always meet demand without unnecessary stockpiling, and they oversee the receiving, shipping, and purchasing processes.
These professionals build relationships and partnerships with external suppliers. They also regularly have to audit the materials they receive and the contracts they have in place with their suppliers. This also means that they must maintain proper records and documentation. Because they also oversee members of staff, they are responsible for this part of documentation as well.
They generally work in a warehouse, although some travel may be required. Usually, they work during regular business hours but some overtime may be required, particularly if they deal with international shipments. They can work in a range of different industries, such as aerospace systems, large scale food operations, medical device companies, hospitals, utility companies, and biotech organizations.
Other duties of materials managers are:
- To be responsible for relationships with suppliers, tracking delivery metrics, price, and quality and leading negotiations
- To develop and change procedures and processes for the transport, receiving, and shipping of goods, while also ensuring waste is reduced and throughput is increased as much as possible
- To maintain documents about the usage, movement, and quality of materials and analyze these records
- To ensure that inventories are accurate and support production needs
- To ensure that inventory is available and sent to the right elements of the organization, thereby meeting organizational goals
Where We Work
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 520,400 purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents in 2016, of which materials managers are part of. The largest employers of these professionals are:
- Manufacturing 23%
- Wholesale trade 15%
- Management of companies and enterprises 10%
- Retail trade 9%
- Federal government 8%
How to Become
It is essential that materials managers have a background in management. In addition, they are also required to understand inventory control, logistics, receiving, and shipping. Furthermore, it is beneficial for them to have an understanding of the specific industry in which they work.
Education Requirements
In general, materials managers need to have a bachelor’s degree and several years of work experience. Exactly how much education and experience is required depends on where they work. Usually, those with a degree in supply management, finance, or business are most in demand. The exception is for materials managers in specific industries, such as farming products and agriculture. Some certification options also exist, although these tend to be voluntary. These include the Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) offered by the American Purchasing Society. Another one is the Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), offered by APICS, and there is the Senior Professional in Supply Management (SPSM) offered by the Next Level Purchasing Association. These are just some examples and there are many more certifications that a materials manager may want to consider to show dedication to their profession as relevant to the industry in which they work.
At least five years of professional experience is also generally expected.
Traits & Qualities
The most effective materials managers have the following traits to some degree or other:
– Strong analytical skills
– Excellent decision making skills
– Great mathematical skills
– Strong negotiating skills
– Excellent critical thinking skills
– Great communication skills, particularly writing skills
Minimum Education
Bachelor’s Degree
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- Most Reported
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$27,000
$166,000
The following section lists Materials Manager salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, Minnesota had the largest quoted salary of $129,333 while Arizona had the smallest quoted salary of $35,616.
According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Materials Manager. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.
| Employer Name | Location | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Materials Manager | California | $157,483 |
| CyberCoders Materials Manager | New York | $156,537 |
| AccessSourceGroup Materials Manager | Alabama | $148,569 |
| The Sterling Group Materials Manager | California | $129,993 |
| Apple Materials Manager | California | $129,816 |
| Global Technology Associates Materials Manager | Alabama | $124,320 |
| JAS Recruitment Materials Manager | New York | $120,946 |
| DBD Enterprises, LLC; a recruiting company Materials Manager | New Jersey | $120,226 |
| Saudi Arabian Chevron Company Materials Manager | Texas | $120,000 |
| ASAP Search & Recruiters Materials Manager | Michigan | $117,975 |
| Pratt & Whitney Materials Manager | Connecticut | $116,934 |
| SYNERGIES PLUS RESOURCES Materials Manager | Michigan | $116,803 |
| Elias Associates, Inc Materials Manager | Michigan | $112,066 |
| Austin Allen Company, LLC Materials Manager | Georgia | $111,421 |
| Alliance Search Solutions Materials Manager | Michigan | $111,234 |
| Cameron Craig Group Materials Manager | Michigan | $110,997 |
| NewCareers Materials Manager | Virginia | $110,000 |
Learn More
- State of Oregon: Materials Management – Materials …
- Materials Management – TN.gov
- Materials Management | City of Peoria
| Career Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Internal Auditor | $83,754 |
| Information Technology Manager | $83,668 |
| Information Security Analyst | $83,417 |
| Revenue Manager | $83,304 |
| Project Director | $82,923 |
| Business Systems Analyst | $82,655 |
| Senior Business Advisor | $82,555 |
| Certified Public Accountant | $82,242 |
| Forensic Accountant | $82,160 |
| Accounting Manager | $81,709 |
