Job Description Summary

Are you ready to see your career take flight? At GE Aerospace, we believe the world works better when it flies. We are a world-leading provider of jet engines, components, and integrated systems for commercial and military aircraft. We have a relentless dedication to the future of safe and more sustainable flight and believe in our talented people to make it happen.

The Senior Materials Manager (Air & Electromechanical Control) role in Loves Park is responsible for leading site internal end-to-end materials management and production control to support business objectives, with a primary focus on strengthening the Sale and Operations Planning (S&OP) process, optimizing inventory, improvement customer on-time delivery and enabling business unit transformation plans. This role partners closely with Operations, Finance, Commercial, Engineering and Program teams to ensure material availability, mitigate risk, and drive sustained improvements in service, cost, and working capital.

In this role, you will lead a team of materials professionals, partner closely with Operations, Sourcing, Engineering, and Program teams (~6 salaried direct reports and 20-25 hourly indirect reports), and drive continuous improvement in material flow, on-time delivery, and inventory performance for both production and new product/program introductions.

GE Aerospace in Loves Park, IL, focuses on the design and manufacturing of advanced aviation systems and components. This includes electrical power systems, actuation, pneumatic components, and participle separator systems for both military and civil aircraft. The facility also houses a world-class pneumatics laboratory for testing high-precision components like engine pneumatic valves and starter systems.

Job Description

Roles and Responsibilities

Materials Planning & Execution

• Lead internal end-to-end materials planning for Air & Electromechanical Controls to support the master production schedule and customer demand
• Lead supply-side SOP process, which includes capacity assessment, constraint management, level loading, and risk awareness/mitigation
• Ensure material availability to meet Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC) objectives
• Own and maintain MRP health, including lead times, safety stocks, lot sizes, and planning parameters
• Monitor and drive on-time delivery performance manufactured components
• Coordinate with internal and external suppliers to resolve shortages, expedite critical parts, and mitigate supply risk via lean problem-solving methods

Inventory & Material Flow

• Develop and execute inventory strategies balancing availability with working capital targets
• Manage and improve inventory metrics, including inventory turns, excess and obsolete (E&O), and slow-moving stock
• Drive high inventory accuracy through robust cycle counting and reconciliation processes
• Optimize material flow from receiving to point-of-use, including kitting, staging, and material presentation
• Implement and sustain lean material systems such as pull, kanban, supermarkets, and standard work for material handling

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of materials planners, analysts, and/or material coordinators
• Set clear goals and expectations aligned with SQDC and site business priorities
• Provide regular performance feedback and support training, development, and succession planning
• Foster a culture of respect, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Operations to align materials plans with capacity and production schedules
• Collaborate with Sourcing to address supplier performance, capacity constraints, and long-lead strategies
• Work with Engineering and Program teams to manage new product introductions and configuration changes
• Coordinate implementation of engineering changes (ECO/ECR) and obsolescence plans with minimal disruption
• Support customer meetings, internal reviews, and audits related to material readiness and performance

Continuous Improvement & Lean

• Identify and execute continuous improvement projects in planning, scheduling, and material flow
• Use data and problem-solving methods to address root causes of shortages, excess inventory, and planning errors
• Promote and deploy lean tools and digital solutions to improve visibility, forecast accuracy, and responsiveness
• Standardize best practices and document standard work for materials processes

Compliance, Governan