Materials Manager- Logistics
JCSISenior Materials Manager – Logistics
Location: Minneapolis, MN 55450
Work Location: On-site
Salary: $105,000–$125,000 annually + 10% bonus opportunity
Job Type: Full-time
About Us
We are an established provider of airline catering and hospitality services. Our Minneapolis operation supports major airline customers through coordinated food production, inventory management, purchasing, and logistics.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Senior Materials Manager – Logistics to lead our materials department, including purchasing, inventory planning, receiving, storage, and internal product distribution.
This senior leadership position owns department performance, staffing, cost control, and delivery deadlines. You will oversee buyers, administrative support, and operational leadership while ensuring materials are available to meet changing customer menus and production schedules.
The ideal candidate brings deep purchasing and logistics expertise, strong financial and analytical skills, and a record of developing effective teams. You must be comfortable taking initiative, resolving operational challenges, and building reliable processes in an environment that combines multiple customer systems with manual inventory controls.
Key Responsibilities
Direct department-wide materials management, purchasing, inventory, warehouse, and distribution activities.
Lead salaried staff, including buyers, administrative support, and operational management.
Establish priorities, staffing plans, performance expectations, and accountability across the department.
Develop supervisors and managers through coaching, mentoring, and succession planning.
Own inventory availability, purchasing deadlines, department metrics, and budget performance.
Determine inventory levels and order quantities based on customer specifications, menu cycles, product usage, and vendor lead times.
Coordinate purchasing across multiple airline ordering systems and anticipate requirements associated with menu changes.
Monitor food cost variances, compare actual costs with billed costs, and implement corrective actions.
Analyze inventory, usage, yields, and purchasing data to improve accuracy, reduce waste, and control costs.
Oversee weekly, monthly, and annual inventory processes, including physical counts and reconciliation.
Partner with Operations, Production, Finance, and vendors to resolve shortages and maintain service commitments.
Maintain applicable food safety, regulatory, and workplace safety standards.
Strengthen team engagement, improve processes, and build a culture of ownership and continuous improvement.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience.
At least 10 years of relevant logistics, purchasing, inventory, or materials management experience.
Experience managing food products in a production or distribution environment.
Demonstrated leadership experience overseeing teams and developing supervisors or managers.
Strong knowledge of purchasing, demand planning, vendor management, and inventory control.
Strong analytical skills, including experience managing budgets, investigating cost variances, and interpreting operational data.
Ability to coordinate complex ordering requirements and changing production needs.
Proven success improving processes, leading change, and strengthening team performance.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other standard business applications.
Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with employees, customers, vendors, and senior leaders.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in airline catering, high-volume food manufacturing, or food distribution.
Experience overseeing both salaried leaders and hourly operations.
Familiarity with SAP Materials Management or comparable purchasing and inventory systems.
Knowledge of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement practices.
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision coverage beginning on Day 1.
401(k) with company match.
Paid time off and holidays.
Career growth and leadership development opportunities.
Work Environment
This position is on-site and supports a 24/7 operation. It combines planning and analysis with regular engagement in warehouse and production activities. A prompt start is strongly preferred.
We are an equal opportunity employer.
AQ150