Materials Manager at CareHawk in Kitchener, Ontario

Materials Manager

Location: Kitchener, Ontario

At CareHawk, we provide safety through technology, directly impacting the safety and security of students, staff, and long-term care residents across North America, and that's a rewarding feeling. We value giving back and caring for the most vulnerable in our communities, which drives our constant innovation and mission as an established leader in safety communications.

We are looking for a skilled Materials Manager to play a critical role in managing supplier relationships, supporting contract requirements and deliverables, and leading negotiations for a wide range of procurement activities, while supporting our core values of respectfulness, trustworthiness, teamwork, creativity, and safety. The Materials Manager will coordinate and supervise shipping, receiving, and warehouse activities, oversee and manage the processes of inventory control, production planning, and scheduling.

Duties and responsibilities

• Develop, negotiate, and execute operational and procurement strategies aligned with the company’s overall goals and objectives
• Oversee and manage the planning, procurement, storage, control, and distribution of materials and products within the organization according to company needs and customer requirements
• Align demand with sourcing activities
• Maintain accurate inventory levels, control stock, and minimize waste through efficient storage and distribution
• Control inventory levels to ensure availability of material during emergencies
• Define and execute physical inventory and/or cycle count policy
• Predict material needs based on production schedules, sales forecasts, and business needs
• Ensure accurate material forecasting to optimize inventory levels and minimize shortages or overstock situations
• Ensure adherence to budgetary restrictions and strive for cost optimization, and identify opportunities for material efficiency enhancements without compromising on quality and performance
• Collaborate cross-functionally to align material purchases with sales, engineering, project management, and production functions/planning teams to meet customer demands, achieve business targets, streamline material flow, and identify opportunities for process improvement
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards
• Lead negotiations for contracts for the organization and work out agreements with suppliers to achieve cost-effective and strong supplier partnerships for product delivery
• Coordinate the delivery of materials, ensuring timely and accurate shipments
• Maintain and review procurement records for deliveries, materials quantity, specifications, costs, and items purchased, including contract agreements, proposals, and product performance evaluations
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate material efficiencies, assess the effectiveness of material management practices, and drive strategic decision-making
• Evaluate suppliers based on delivery speed for their products and services, price, and quality
• Meet with vendors and staff to discuss unacceptable and defective products and establish corrective action
• Evaluating and monitoring contracts to ensure suppliers and vendors are complying with terms and conditions
• Supervise, evaluate, and coach subordinates
• Coordinating and supervising receiving and warehousing procedures
• Lead, implement, and maintain ERP system and departmental processes for Purchasing, Inventory and Receiving (i.e., cycle counting, month-end activities, reconciliation, etc.)
• Demonstrate strong knowledge of cross-border shipping and logistics regulations
• Effectively manage tariff classification and shipping component logistics across international borders
• Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to drive innovation within the operations department
• Monitor market trends and supplier performance to facilitate continuous improvement in procurement activities
• Develop and implement risk management and business continuity plans to mitigate material disruptions
• Conduct risk management for supply contracts and agreements, anticipating and mitigating potential issues
• Other duties assigned

Qualifications

Qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s degree in supply management, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a relevant industry, such as manufacturing logistics, electronic communication systems supply
• Strong financial acumen, budget management experience, and a strategic mindset
• Proven track record of success in optimizing operations, driving process improvements, and achieving strategic goals
• Skilled in cost analysis, material forecasting, and inventory management
• Strong in vendor negotiations and risk analysis for supply chain reliability
• Proficient in ERP and MRP functionality and reporting for resource management, inventory control, and reporting
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with an ability to adapt to changing priorities
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across diverse teams and suppliers
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment

What We Offer

• Competitive wages
• Comprehensive benefits package including a healthcare spending account
• Registered Pension Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Educational Reimbursement
• Good workplace culture