Director, Materials

About the role

The Director of Materials is a key leadership role within Victaulic’s Fabrication and Pre-Fabrication organization, responsible for the end-to-end strategy and execution of materials management, production planning, procurement execution, and fabrication scheduling across all fabrication facilities.

Responsibilities

• Fabrication-Focused Strategic Leadership
• Develop and execute a comprehensive materials and planning strategy aligned to the growth of Victaulic’s global fabrication and pre-fabrication business.
• Establish standardized processes, governance, and performance expectations across all fabrication locations.
• Partner with the VP and senior leadership to support strategic initiatives including network expansion, product launches, and operational transformation.
• Drive alignment between fabrication operations, sourcing strategies, and customer delivery expectations.
• Fabrication Scheduling & Production Planning
• Lead enterprise-wide fabrication scheduling across all facilities, ensuring on-time delivery and optimal use of shop capacity.
• Oversee coordination of fabrication activities including pipe processing, skids, coatings, lining, and externally managed services.
• Avoidance of inaccurate lead times, production sequencing, and capacity planning across all fabrication sites.
• Facilitate cross-site coordination to balance workloads, mitigate constraints, and support customer commitments.
• Materials Management & Inventory Control
• Own the strategy and execution of inventory management across fabrication facilities, including raw materials, WIP, and finished fabricated assemblies.
• Ensure full compliance with material traceability requirements (heat/lot, country of origin, regulatory standards) critical to fabrication operations.
• Drive inventory optimization including reduction of excess, obsolete, and slow-moving materials, while maintaining high service levels.
• Implement robust cycle count programs, root cause analysis processes, and inventory accuracy initiatives across all locations.
• Procurement Execution & Supplier Coordination
• Lead Buyer/Planner and fabrication procurement teams responsible for sourcing execution, material availability, and supplier coordination.
• Ensure alignment between strategic sourcing decisions and fabrication execution, including expediting, supplier performance tracking, and issue resolution.
• Oversee supplier engagement related to fabrication-specific needs such as coatings, specialty materials, and customer-supplied components.
• Drive improvements in supplier performance, responsiveness, and reliability to support fabrication schedules.
• Material Flow, Layout & Operational Efficiency
• Optimize material flow within fabrication facilities, from receiving through production to final shipment.
• Drive improvements in warehouse layout, storage strategies, and material handling to support high-volume, high-variability fabrication environments.
• Implement and sustain Lean manufacturing principles (Kanban, pull systems, continuous improvement) tailored to fabrication operations.
• Support pre-fabrication and modularization strategies to improve installation speed and customer value.
• Systems, Data & Visibility
• Ensure effective utilization of ERP, planning, and shop floor systems (e.g., BPCS/AS400, Mendix, MRP tools) to drive real-time visibility and decision-making.
• Develop and standardize dashboards and KPIs across fabrication facilities, including schedule adherence, inventory accuracy, and material availability.
• Leverage data analytics to anticipate material shortages, improve planning accuracy, and optimize working capital.
• Cross-Functional Leadership & Integration
• Serve as the primary liaison between Fabrication Operations and key partners including Sourcing, Engineering, Customer Care, IT, and Logistics.
• Ensure early alignment on new product introductions, catalog changes, and engineering updates impacting fabrication and material requirements.
• Support enterprise initiatives related to operational excellence, digital transformation, and global standardization.
• Talent Development & Organizational Capability
• Lead and develop a team of managers, supervisors, planners, analysts, and buyer/planners across the fabrication network.
• Build organizational capability in fabrication planning, materials management, and supply chain execution.
• Establish clear accountability, succession planning, and leadership development across the function.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, ownership, and collaboration aligned with Victaulic’s values.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of progressive experience in materials management, planning, procurement, or supply chain within manufacturing or fabrication environments
• Proven leadership experience managing multi-site, complex operations, ideally within fabrication, steel, or industrial manufacturing
• Deep understanding of fabrication processes, material flow, and production scheduling
• Strong knowledge of MRP/ERP systems and data-driven planning methodologies
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence at senior leadership levels

Core Competencies

• Strategic Leadership in Fabrication & Operations
• End-to-End Materials & Planning Expertise
• Cross-Functional Influence & Collaboration
• Operational Excellence & Lean Thinking
• Talent Development & Organizational Leadership

Benefits

Victaulic offers a full benefits package which includes: comprehensive healthcare coverage, paid time off plans, paid holidays, 401K with company match, company paid short-term disability, company paid life insurance, company paid EAP program, tuition reimbursement and adoption assistance.