Materials & Distribution Manager

Position Summary

The Materials & Distribution Manager is a critical leadership role responsible for directing and optimizing the end-to-end flow of materials, inventory, and outbound distribution. Reporting directly to the Director of Supply Planning and Execution, this position bridges the gap between material planning and physical logistics, ensuring raw materials and components are available to support production while managing efficient, accurate, and cost-effective distribution channels in Vista. The ideal candidate will combine strategic supply chain oversight with strong people management, leading a dedicated team of 2 direct reports to drive operational execution.

Key Responsibilities
1. Materials Management & Inventory Control

• Procurement & Planning Strategy: Oversee material requirements planning (MRP) to ensure an uninterrupted supply of raw materials and components while minimizing carrying costs and obsolescence.
• Supplier Coordination: Collaborate closely with sourcing and purchasing teams to manage vendor performance, delivery lead times, and inventory buffer levels.
• Inventory Optimization: Establish and enforce cycle counting programs, warehouse inventory accuracy standards, and inventory valuation controls across all storage locations.

1. Distribution & Logistics Operations

• Fulfillment Execution: Manage daily warehousing, pick/pack/ship operations, and finished goods distribution to ensure on-time delivery (OTD) to customers.
• Network Efficiency: Monitor logistics performance metrics, freight costs, and carrier performance, identifying opportunities to optimize shipping routes and warehouse layout.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Work hand-in-hand with Sales, Customer Service, and Manufacturing to align shipping schedules with production output and customer demand spikes.

1. Team Leadership & Strategic Execution

• People Management: Directly lead, mentor, and evaluate a team of 2 direct reports overseeing day-to-day planning and logistics workflows.
• Departmental Alignment: Work directly with the Director of Supply Planning and Execution to set operational targets, track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and execute supply chain strategies.
• Process Improvement: Foster a culture of continuous improvement using Lean/Six Sigma principles to eliminate waste in material handling and fulfillment workflows.
• Safety & Compliance: Ensure all warehouse and material handling activities comply with OSHA regulations, company safety policies, and quality standards.

Qualifications & Requirements
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience: 5+ years of progressive experience in supply chain, materials management, or distribution operations, with at least 2+ years in a formal people-management or leadership role.
• Technical Skills:
Advanced proficiency with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite).
Strong command of Excel and supply chain analytics tools.
• Core Competencies:
Deep understanding of inventory control methodologies (FIFO/LIFO, safety stock, ABC analysis).
Proven track record of managing warehouse operations and freight logistics.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and cross-functional leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification in Supply Chain (e.g., APICS CPIM, CSCP, or CLTD).
• Experience implementing automation, WMS (Warehouse Management Systems), or advanced planning software.