Materials Manager

Sub-Zero Group•Madison, WI

About The Position

Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove the leading manufacturer of luxury kitchen appliances is a longstanding, family-owned company in the Madison area. Icons of design and paragons of performance and quality, Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove are the refrigeration, cooking, and dishwashing specialists found in world’s most luxurious homes. We look for team members who are driven by innovation and excellence, striving to serve our customers by doing what is right—with integrity, teamwork, and accountability. Sub-Zero Group is seeking a Materials Manager with Last-Mile Logistics & Lineside Delivery experience to own and lead the end-to-end operation connecting our offsite 3PL-managed warehouse to on-site production lines. In this role, last mile refers to the full execution path from offsite storage and handling, through transportation to the plant, and ultimately to zone-based, tugger-supported lineside delivery and point-of-use presentation. This is a manager-level, execution-focused leadership role with full responsibility for 3PL contract governance, KPI performance, and internal dock-to-line delivery execution. The role owns On-Time, In-Full (OTIF) delivery performance to production lineside and serves as the primary authority for material availability impacting production. This position reports to the Site Leader and is a key member of the site leadership team.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
10+ years of progressive management experience in materials, supply chain, or manufacturing roles
Demonstrated ability to lead large teams and drive accountability in high-volume environments
Experience working with or managing 3PL providers
Proven history of leading change, enforcing standards, and improving performance through clear expectations and leadership

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, SCM, or related
Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills
SAP experience

Responsibilities

Last-Mile Logistics & Lineside Delivery Ownership
Own the end-to-end materials flow from the offsite 3PL-managed warehouse through on-site receipt and delivery to production lineside.
Define and govern the last-mile execution model, including transportation cadence, dock schedules, staging, zone ownership, and tugger routes.
Ensure materials are picked by the 3PL to top hats and prepared by route/zone, ready for stable and predictable tugger delivery.
Own On-Time, In-Full (OTIF) delivery performance for all materials delivered to production lineside, including both 3PL execution and internal dock-to-line delivery.
Establish and enforce delivery standards that ensure materials arrive complete, accurate, and at the point of use in support of production schedules and takt.
3PL Contract Ownership & Performance Governance
Serve as the primary owner of the 3PL contract, including scope, service-level agreements, and performance expectations.
Govern 3PL responsibilities covering offsite storage, handling, pick-to-top-hat execution, route preparation, and transportation to the plant.
Define, track, and enforce 3PL KPIs, including On-Time, In-Full (OTIF) delivery aligned to lineside requirements, pick accuracy, inventory accuracy at handoff points, responsiveness, and safety.
Lead formal performance reviews, corrective actions, and escalation processes.
Enforce contractual remedies and continuous improvement commitments as required.
Ensure 3PL success is measured by lineside delivery performance, not dock-level receipt alone.
Operational Accountability & Escalation
Translate production demand into executable material release, delivery, and replenishment plans.
Establish clear ownership at every handoff point between the 3PL, internal logistics, and production.
Act as the senior escalation point for material-related downtime caused by last-mile, offsite or internal execution failures.
Embed KPI-driven management and performance transparency across all shifts and delivery zones.
People & Culture Leadership
Lead internal teams consisting of 40+ material handlers across three shifts, supported by supervisors and a small inventory control team.
Standardize expectations, work execution, and communication across shifts, within the department and cross functionally.
Coach leaders and frontline teams to operate in a process-driven, data-led environment.
Drive cultural change by reducing reliance on tribal knowledge, informal workarounds, and exception-based execution.
Position lineside delivery as a critical production enabler, with clear ownership and accountability.
Inventory Control & Systems Discipline
Ensure accurate and timely execution of inventory transactions at all transfer points between the 3PL and the plant.
Leverage scan-based systems to maintain real-time visibility of material movement from offsite warehouse to lineside.
Partner cross-functionally to align material flow with schedules, takt, and system requirements.
Support system-enforced controls that prevent undocumented movement, negative inventory, and material ambiguity.
Drive inventory accuracy through an effective cycle count process and adherence to standardized work.
Process Design & Continuous Improvement
Design, deploy, and sustain standardized zone-based lineside delivery models supported by tugger routes and defined cadence.
Lead Lean, 6S, and continuous improvement initiatives focused on flow stability, waste reduction, and safety.
Implement and maintain a Plan-for-Every-Part (PFEP) covering offsite storage, transport method, delivery frequency, container type, and point-of-use.
Ensure all processes are supported by clear work instructions, full work loading, safe work design, and effective onboarding and training.