Materials Manager at Lakeland Manufacturing — Texarkana, AR

Transco Rail Services

Lead Inventory Strategy, Develop Teams, and Keep Operations Moving

We are seeking a Materials Manager to lead inventory control, material planning, warehousing, and material flow activities that support daily production operations. This role is ideal for a hands-on supply chain leader who enjoys developing teams, improving processes, driving inventory accuracy, and partnering across departments to ensure materials are available when and where they are needed.

What You’ll Do

The Materials Manager is responsible for leading materials operations, inventory management, kitting activities, and material handlers while supporting continuous improvement initiatives throughout the facility.

On any given day, you will:

• Lead and develop Line Side Supervisors and Material Handlers
• Partner with Site Buyers to ensure material availability and support production requirements
• Implement material control processes that reduce costs and improve efficiency
• Maintain balanced inventory levels while preventing stockouts and production delays
• Monitor material movement through TREX and manage digital picklists
• Oversee kitting schedules and material staging activities
• Ensure storage locations are organized for maximum efficiency and accessibility
• Conduct daily plant walks and actively participate in the Daily Management System
• Lead or participate in Kaizen and continuous improvement events
• Perform and oversee cycle counts, inventory reconciliation, and inventory accuracy initiatives
• Track supplemental material requests across work centers
• Communicate inventory shortages, shipment delays, and vendor issues to plant leadership
• Build strong communication channels across departments to support operational needs
• Maintain accurate inventory records and materials documentation
• Ensure safe, organized, and efficient material storage and handling practices

What Makes This Role Different:

• Direct Impact on Operations: Your team's ability to provide the right materials at the right time directly impacts production throughput, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Leadership Opportunity: Lead and develop frontline materials teams while helping shape inventory and material strategies for the facility.
• Continuous Improvement Focus: Drive process improvements through Kaizen events, inventory optimization, and material flow enhancements.
• Cross-Functional Visibility: Work closely with production, purchasing, supply chain, operations, and plant leadership to solve challenges and improve performance.

What We’re Looking For

We're seeking a collaborative supply chain professional who can balance strategic planning with hands-on operational execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of experience across multiple supply chain functions, including inventory management, production planning, warehousing, logistics, or manufacturing operations
• Experience leading teams in a manufacturing or industrial environment
• Strong inventory management and material planning experience
• Proven project management and continuous improvement experience
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, and interpret data from multiple sources
• Experience generating reports and maintaining accurate inventory records
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work across multiple departments
• Ability to influence others and drive results without direct authority
• Strong organizational, planning, and time management skills
• Demonstrated problem-solving and root cause analysis capabilities
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail

Preferred:

• Experience with inventory management systems, ERP systems, or warehouse management systems
• Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, or Continuous Improvement experience
• Manufacturing, industrial, rail, or heavy equipment industry experience
• Experience leading inventory optimization and material flow initiatives

Work Environment:

• Significant time spent in a manufacturing and railcar repair environment
• Frequent interaction with operations, warehouse, and production teams
• Exposure to varying weather conditions, noise, dust, and industrial equipment
• Requires use of PPE, including safety glasses, work boots, hearing protection, and respiratory protection as required
• Ability to walk, climb, lift up to 50 pounds, and perform physical activities throughout the workday
• Ability to maintain focus and attention to detail in a fast-paced environment

Site Specific Details:

• Location: Texarkana, Arkansas
• Shift: First Shift 6:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday
• Compensation: Base Salary: $87,500 - $100,000

Compensation & Benefits

What you can expect:

• Competitive base salary
• Stable, long-term career within a growing organization

Full Benefits – Day One:

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k) with company match
• Company-paid life and disability insurance
• Paid time off + paid holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid time off and holidays
• Career growth opportunities across Marmon/Berkshire Hathaway companies

Why Transco?

• Prioritizes safety and people first
• Invests in training and development
• Offers real career mobility, not just lateral moves
• Is backed by the strength and stability of a global organization

Not Sure If You Check Every Box?

We still encourage you to apply.

Apply Today

Equal Opportunity Employer

Pay Range:

82,350.00 - 100,650.00