How to hire a director of materials management

How to hire a director of materials management, step by step

Here's a step-by-step director of materials management hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a director of materials management job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new director of materials management
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a director of materials management do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a director of materials management, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect director of materials management also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of directors of materials management.

   Type of Director Of Materials Management	Description	Hourly rate
   Director Of Materials Management	Purchasing managers plan, direct, and coordinate the buying of materials, products, or services for wholesalers, retailers, or organizations. They oversee the work of procurement-related occupations including buyers and purchasing agents.	$34-54
   Supply Chain Consultant	A supply chain consultant specializes in performing research and analysis to develop strategies for optimal services. Typically working in the manufacturing industry, their responsibilities revolve around monitoring the inventory and supply flow of materials, liaising with vendors and suppliers, coordinating with different departments to gather necessary data, identifying strengths and weaknesses in the operations, and suggesting actions on areas needing improvement... Show more	$33-53
   Supply Chain Director	A supply chain director is primarily in charge of the overall supply chain operations in a company. Their responsibilities revolve around devising strategies to improve processes, creating business plans and sales forecasts, delegating tasks, coordinating and selecting suppliers and vendors, creating new supply chain policies when necessary, and spearheading the inventory and delivery processes... Show more	$43-88

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Materials Management
   • Supply Chain
   • Patients
   • Logistics
   • Inventory Control
   • Value Analysis
   • Inventory Management
   • Purchase Orders
   • MRP
   • Chain Management
   • Patient Care
   • Contract Compliance
   • Health System
   • Management System

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage selection of all suppliers, vendor consolidation and new SKU creation to include BOMs.
   • Manage GPO and individually negotiate supplier agreements and compliance.
   • Work closely with production planning team (MRP) to insure product availability to the production floor.
   • Plan wafer starts, WIP control.
   • Schedule time phase finish goods purchases from an MPS software system and production material purchases from an MRP system.
   • Conduct thorough business case evaluation of legacy ERP software in support of management decision to upgrade or purchase new.

   More director of materials management duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your director of materials management job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A director of materials management can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, directors of materials management' average salary in florida is 36% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level directors of materials management 37% less than senior-level directors of materials management.
   • Certifications. A director of materials management with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a director of materials management's salary.

   Average director of materials management salary

   $91,206yearly

   $43.85 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level director of materials management salary

   $72,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average director of materials management salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$108,668	$52
   2	California	$105,960	$51
   3	Massachusetts	$103,891	$50
   4	New Hampshire	$103,317	$50
   5	Michigan	$102,149	$49
   6	New Jersey	$101,099	$49
   7	North Carolina	$99,460	$48
   8	Minnesota	$98,463	$47
   9	Alaska	$93,012	$45
   10	Colorado	$90,922	$44
   11	Montana	$90,619	$44
   12	Texas	$89,206	$43
   13	Delaware	$88,733	$43
   14	Illinois	$88,716	$43
   15	New Mexico	$87,787	$42
   16	Maryland	$86,721	$42
   17	Georgia	$85,269	$41
   18	Kansas	$84,375	$41
   19	Kentucky	$84,317	$41
   20	Arkansas	$83,173	$40

   Average director of materials management salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Microsoft	$126,665	$60.90	31
   2	Sleep Number	$119,656	$57.53	1
   3	Applied Materials	$103,837	$49.92	25
   4	Quest Diagnostics	$102,439	$49.25	2
   5	Bayer	$102,369	$49.22	5
   6	Randolph Health	$97,829	$47.03	1
   7	Boeing	$96,569	$46.43	165
   8	LifeCare Medical Center	$95,917	$46.11	1
   9	Community Health Systems	$95,758	$46.04	44
   10	Navistar	$95,355	$45.84	2
   11	Seagen	$94,995	$45.67
   12	Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego	$93,903	$45.15
   13	International Trucks	$93,776	$45.08
   14	Lexington Medical Center	$93,695	$45.05
   15	Sunnova Energy	$93,462	$44.93	1
   16	HealthTrust	$93,275	$44.84
   17	LifePoint Health	$92,567	$44.50	14
   18	Appalachian Regional Healthcare	$92,395	$44.42	1
   19	Regal Beloit	$92,335	$44.39	1
   20	Northrop Grumman	$91,971	$44.22	68

4. Writing a director of materials management job description

   A director of materials management job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a director of materials management job description:

   Director of materials management job description example

   The Coordinator, Materials Management is responsible for assisting in the sourcing of materials and services, answering Client Supply phones, providing administrative support for the Materials Management department.
   * Assist in the sourcing of materials and services for the Business unit (BU) as directed.
   * Assist the Materials Management staff in data collection and report preparation as needed.
   * Maintain appropriate documentation, filing and storage of records, reports, Capital Expenditure forms (capexes) purchase requisitions, etc.
   * Assist in maintaining an accurate database in the Materials Management software system.
   * Assist in managing open orders, backorders, etc.
   * Assist with Client Supply order entry.
   * Assist in maintaining current service contracts.
   * Assist in tracking fixed assets through the Asset Tracking database.
   * Assist in managing the standing order process as requested.
   * Entering of requisitions and stock requests into the Material Management software system as needed.
   * Provide administrative support for the Materials Management department as required.
   * 12. Comply with all applicable and current Materials Management Services Management, Human Resources, Employee Health and Safety, Compliance, OSHA, CLIA, etc. policies and procedures.
   
   QUALIFICATIONS
   
   Required Work Experience: Two or more years of purchasing experience required Preferred Work Experience: Medical and or Materials Management experience desired Physical and Mental Requirements:
   
   * Occasionally lifting up to 25 pounds
   * May require extended periods of focus
   * May require extended periods of sitting or standing
   * Ability to manage stress
   * Capable of handling multiple priorities in a high volume setting
   
   Knowledge:
   
   * Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Programs (Word, Excel, Access, etc.)
   * Strong knowledge of Microsoft Excel skills preferred and knowledge of Access a plus.
   * Basic math skills and knowledge (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)
   
   Skills:
   
   * Strong problem-solving skills
   * Strong communication skills
   * Strong record keeping skills
   * Strong teamwork skills
   * Ability to operate a computer, printer, copier and other basic office equipment
   
   EDUCATION
   
   Associates Degree or a combination of education and experience(Required)
   
   High School Diploma or Equivalent(Required)
   
   LICENSECERTIFICATIONS
   
   Accredited Purchasing Professional (APP), Certified in Inventory Management (CPIM), or Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find directors of materials management for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any directors of materials management they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level directors of materials management with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your director of materials management job on Zippia to find and recruit director of materials management candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with director of materials management candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new director of materials management

   Once you've found the director of materials management candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new director of materials management. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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