About NFW
NFW is a circularity platform for plastic-free performance materials. NFW follows three Ground Rules in everything we develop: start well, stay clean, end well. While nearly everything in the built world relies on some type of plastic that began as crude oil and that will become plastic pollution, we are establishing a new material reality. We believe all materials should begin and end as nutrients, ready for the next growth cycle—true circularity.
Our multi-material platform serves a wide range of industries—from fashion and footwear to automotive and upholstery. NFW technology embeds seamlessly into existing supply chains, enabling the world’s most iconic brands to design and scale products with high-performance, plastic-free materials. NFW makes global brands more sustainable, empowering them to create without plastics. Alongside the boldest brands and visionary designers, we are pioneering a naturally circular, post-oil economy.
NFW is a company of trailblazers, innovators, and bold thinkers, committed to reinventing the way things are made. We never stop learning. We are fiercely curious about the world and how to improve it for everyone. We offer competitive salary, paid vacation and sick time, flexible work-life balance, great colleagues and more!
Position Overview
The Materials Manager plays a crucial role in managing procurement processes to ensure that materials are available consistently for production needs. He/she works with manufacturing operations, procurement, engineering, and quality to execute planning activities in line with defined lean inventory, production, and procurement strategies for purchased materials. He / she manages capacity planning, schedule changes, cancellations, and inventory issues for purchased materials. This position is in Peoria, IL.
Responsibilities
Material Management
- Reviews forecasts and production plans to ensure the consistent and adequate supply of materials necessary for production.
- Plans and schedules material in accordance with the needs of the master production schedule (MPS).
- Drives S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning) process globally for raw and intermediate materials and contract manufacturers, providing input to the Global S&OP process.
- Determines the required materials and generate/manage purchase requisitions to support the material forecasts.
- Manages and coordinates activities between manufacturing, production control, quality, purchasing and logistics to meet customer requirements.
- Expedite deliveries to meet and exceed scheduled critical requirements.
Supplier and Inventory Coordination
- Works closely with Supplier Quality Engineers and Sourcing Managers to ensure materials are sourced from approved suppliers, meet specifications, and adhere to quality standards.
- Schedules and tracks the supply and delivery of materials to ensure timely delivery, prepares regular reports on order statuses and supplier performance.
- Ensures that problems relating to quality or pricing are promptly conveyed to the supplier and resolved in a timely manner to ensure on-time delivery.
- Inventory: Effectively executes supply and demand material plans, ensuring right part, right place, right time with minimal inventory and meet master production schedule
Production and Forecast Collaboration
- Tracks changes in business needs and adjusts order quantities to accommodate business fluctuations.
- Identifies supply issues, flag with the appropriate owners across Engineering, Purchasing, Manufacturing
- Coordinates with production planners for solutions when parts cannot be delivered as promised.
- Ensures contract manufacturers are ordering according to the production forecast, minimizing part shortage risks while balancing excess and obsolescence exposure.
- ERP system SME for all purchasing scheduling, movement, etc.
Process Improvement
- Identifies and recommends opportunities to drive cost reductions or cost avoidance for production parts.
- Develops, implements, and maintains Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to procurement and data reporting.
- Conducts ad-hoc data analysis to support decision-making and optimize procurement processes.
- Maintains proactive shortage identification and management - help flag root causes & corrective actions.
- Maintains and continuously evaluates supplier performance and escalates to Purchasing when issues occur.
- Periodically reviews material consumption to optimize procurement parameters, adjust re-order points, and safety stocks based on the Materials planning strategy. Ensuring the order levels are always in support of the consumption pattern.
- Establishes policies for purchasing (MRP, e-Kanban, discreet purchase orders, etc.)
Reporting and Communication
- Communicates forecasts and replenishment plans to supplier.
- Maintains and updates analytical tools and reports to track key metrics and performance indicators.
- Communicates effectively with internal teams and external suppliers to resolve issues and ensure alignment with production needs.
- Provides feedback on supplier performance and work on continuous improvement initiatives.
- Owns the reporting and analysis of supply and material health and ensure that stakeholders have the inputs they need to make decisions across Engineering Development (cut-in dates for new designs), Purchasing (signals on what to buy), Manufacturing (signals on being clear-to-build and what to build), Business Development (supply overview to drive customer contracts).
- Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain / Logistics, or Industrial Engineering
- APICS/CPIM or NAPM (CPM) Certification preferred.
- Minimum 7 years of experience working as a planner, scheduler, or production control, in a manufacturing environment (ideally textile / chemical) including minimum 2 years in a supervisory role.
- Skilled in production and supplier scheduling.
- Proven experience with MPR/ERP systems and understanding of planning and purchasing functions.
- Experience working with contract manufacturers and sub-tier suppliers.
- Experience working in an ISO 9001, IATF16949 or similar quality management environment.
- Strong analytical skills with proficiency in data analysis tools and software (e.g., Excel, MRP/ERP systems, Power BI).
- Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Knowledge of supplier processes and capabilities.
- Demonstrated ability to completely own a value chain from start to finish, coordinating among multiple different internal and external parties to achieve on-time deliveries under stringent quality standards.
- Experience with Lean Supply Chain / Manufacturing and/or Continuous Improvement and Six Sigma principles
Physical Requirements & Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Frequently required to talk, hear, and see. Frequent use of hands to grasp, handle, or feel. Regular standing, walking, sitting, and reaching. Occasionally lift up to 10 pounds. Primarily operates in office. and manufacturing environments. Routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets. Occasionally required to use personal protective equipment. Ability to travel to various locations, locally and internationally when required.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Company is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive team in which members of all backgrounds can contribute and thrive. In compliance with state and federal law, the Company does not discriminate in employment or administration of its programs and policies based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, or military service. Our policy reflects and affirms the Company’s commitment to the principles of fair employment and the elimination of all unlawful discriminatory practices.
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