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About Slate
At Slate, we've got one job: building a vehicle you'll fall in love with, right here in the USA. We believe that car buyers — not car companies — should call the shots. We like looking at a road, not a screen. We don't like paying for stuff we don't need. We like picking out the stuff we do need. We think dings are badges, not blemishes. But we know not everyone likes what we like. So, we built you a Slate: you make it yours.
Who we are looking for:
We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Supervisor, Material Planning to lead our automotive material planning team. This role is responsible for ensuring the uninterrupted flow of materials to support production schedules, while optimizing inventory levels and minimizing supply chain risks. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in automotive or high volume manufacturing, excellent leadership skills, and a deep understanding of supply chain planning systems and lean principles.
What you get to do:
Team Leadership & Strategy
- Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of material planners, setting clear goals and performance expectations.
- Lead daily planning meetings and ensure alignment between production, procurement, and logistics teams.
- Develop and implement strategic material planning processes that support business goals and customer requirements.
Material Planning & Scheduling
- Create and manage material requirement plans (MRPs) based on production forecasts, customer orders, and inventory targets.
- Ensure timely procurement and delivery of materials to meet production schedules without overstocking.
- Monitor supplier performance and coordinate with purchasing to resolve delivery or quality issues.\
Inventory & Supply Chain Optimization
- Maintain optimal inventory levels by balancing supply and demand, reducing excess and obsolete inventory.
- Analyze usage trends, lead times, and capacity constraints to improve planning accuracy.
- Implement and maintain the Plan for Every Part (PFEP) to ensure efficient material flow and storage.
- Oversee the transition of obsolete parts, ensuring minimum financial liability and waste reduction.
- Support manufacturing changes / Change Management and process enhancements, ensuring materials are consistently available. Support NPI & launch activities related to change management.
- Establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for material planning, improving efficiency and accountability.
- Optimize cost-saving strategies while maintaining quality and productivity standards.
Systems & Data Management
- Utilize ERP / MRP systems to manage material planning, scheduling, and reporting.
- Ensure data accuracy in bills of materials (BOMs), item masters, and inventory records.
- Generate and analyze KPIs such as inventory turns, on-time delivery, and material availability.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with production, quality, engineering, and logistics teams to support new product launches and engineering changes.
- Coordinate with suppliers and logistics providers to ensure timely inbound material flow.
- Support packaging and labeling compliance for inbound and outbound materials.
Continuous Improvement
- Lead and participate in lean initiatives to streamline material flow and reduce waste.
- Identify and implement process improvements to enhance planning efficiency and responsiveness.
- Conduct root cause analysis for material shortages and implement corrective actions.
What you bring to the team:
Education & Experience Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field. Master's degree is preferred.
- 5+ years of experience in Material Planning, Supply Chain Management, or related job functions, preferably in the automotive industry.
- Experience with Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience supporting product launches and engineering change management.
- Familiarity with automotive production systems, supplier logistics, and just-in-time (JIT) delivery models.
- Knowledge of packaging engineering and returnable container management.
Technical & Leadership Skills
- Strong knowledge of MRP / ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Plex, FUUZ, etc.) and inventory control practices
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUPS, macros, and more.
- Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Proven leadership experience with the ability to coach and develop high-performing teams.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills for effective cross-functional collaboration.
Physical Requirements:
- Must have the ability to travel (up to 10%).
- Must have the ability to lift up to 35 pounds.
- Must have the ability to stand, walk, and perform repetitive tasks for extended periods.
Why Join Team Slate?
At Slate, we're fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail. The start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness move our business forward. Team Slate fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and mutual respect, and is motivated by shared principles.
- Safety First
- Delight Customers
- One Team
- Relentless Improvement
- Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy
- Respectful Collaboration
- Positive Legacy
We want to work with people that reflect the communities in which we operate.
- Slate is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason.
- Slate is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [email protected].
