How to hire a materials planning manager

How to hire a materials planning manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step materials planning manager hiring guide:

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

What does a materials planning manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a materials planning manager, 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a materials planning manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a materials planning manager that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of materials planning managers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Materials Planning Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Materials Planning Manager	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.	$35-59
   Procurement Officer	A procurement officer is primarily in charge of overseeing the procurement of supplies and equipment for an organization, prioritizing cost-efficiency and quality. It is their duty to manage the company's supply inventory, compile and analyze procurement requests, develop purchase plans, handle purchase procedures, and maintain records of all transactions, producing reports regularly... Show more	$25-48
   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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Material Planning
   • Logistics
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Inventory Control
   • Materials Management
   • On-Time Delivery
   • Lean Manufacturing
   • Supplier Performance
   • WIP
   • Production Planning
   • Material Flow
   • Inventory Management
   • OTD
   • Production Schedules

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage both domestic and international logistics to support just in time production environment.
   • Support successful ISO 9002 plant certification process
   • Represent department during ISO certification drive and subsequent audits.
   • Demonstrate logistics expertise by identifying and researching inventory and production issues, and promptly devising a plan for resolution.
   • Direct all in-house manufacturing/machining work orders and processing from engineering BOM release through post machining processes by coordinating with machining manager.
   • Direct process and production improvement activities in an FDA regulate work environment.

   More materials planning manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the materials planning manager job description is a good way to get more applicants. A materials planning manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a materials planning manager in Iowa may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level materials planning manager. Additionally, a materials planning manager with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average materials planning manager salary

   $95,361yearly

   $45.85 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level materials planning manager salary

   $73,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average materials planning manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$126,630	$61
   2	New York	$107,560	$52
   3	New Hampshire	$107,031	$51
   4	Oregon	$101,056	$49
   5	Virginia	$94,002	$45
   6	Texas	$93,214	$45
   7	Colorado	$92,131	$44
   8	Ohio	$89,918	$43
   9	Utah	$87,777	$42
   10	Georgia	$86,873	$42
   11	Illinois	$85,423	$41
   12	Missouri	$84,533	$41
   13	Arizona	$81,563	$39
   14	Tennessee	$81,507	$39
   15	Minnesota	$78,923	$38

   Average materials planning manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Fitbit	$129,958	$62.48
   2	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$124,339	$59.78	10
   3	Rivian	$124,265	$59.74	17
   4	Lam Research	$119,204	$57.31	3
   5	Cisco	$116,806	$56.16	21
   6	Mueller Water Products	$109,784	$52.78	5
   7	Entegris	$108,654	$52.24	5
   8	Baker Hughes	$107,033	$51.46	2
   9	Solectron Corp	$106,538	$51.22	6
   10	Wabtec Corporation	$105,646	$50.79	2
   11	Beckman Coulter	$101,955	$49.02
   12	Lucid Motors	$101,236	$48.67	35
   13	Northrop Grumman	$100,855	$48.49	43
   14	Eaton	$98,971	$47.58	19
   15	BAE Systems	$97,689	$46.97	58
   16	Post Holdings	$95,391	$45.86	4
   17	Parker Hannifin	$94,887	$45.62	21
   18	Anheuser-Busch	$94,778	$45.57
   19	Randstad North America, Inc.	$94,318	$45.35
   20	Puratos Corporation	$94,169	$45.27

4. Writing a materials planning manager job description

   A job description for a materials planning manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a materials planning manager job description:

   Materials planning manager job description example

   Leading the future in luxury electric and mobility
   At Lucid, we set out to introduce the most captivating, luxury electric vehicles that elevate the human experience and transcend the perceived limitations of space, performance, and intelligence. Vehicles that are intuitive, liberating, and designed for the future of mobility.
   
   We plan to lead in this new era of luxury electric by returning to the fundamentals of great design - where every decision we make is in service of the individual and environment. Because when you are no longer bound by convention, you are free to define your own experience.
   
   Come work alongside some of the most accomplished minds in the industry. Beyond providing competitive salaries, we're providing a community for innovators who want to make an immediate and significant impact. If you are driven to create a better, more sustainable future, then this is the right place for you.
   
   Lucid's mission is to inspire the adoption of sustainable energy by creating the most captivating luxury electric vehicles, centered around the human experience. Working at Lucid Motors means having a shared vision to power the future in revolutionary ways. Be part of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform the automotive industry
   
   We are seeking a Manager to lead the Demand and Material Planning operations for the Lucid Service's Global Supply Chain team. The position requires an experienced professional with a strong automotive background to understand the challenges within the industry's complex Service supply strategy. This Manager will grow and lead a team of Demand Planning Analysts and Planning professionals, including Material Planners, Channel Planners and Expeditors. Engagement with Procurement and Manufacturing operation teams are needed to execute Service deliverables that will ultimately ensure the highest customer experience.
   
   The RoleCreate a strong, efficient, and reliable supply strategy for Service's direct materials Lead the Material Planning functions by driving solutions to prevent gaps in our supply schedule Build a team of Demand Analysts to evaluate statistical data, recommend, and influence supply strategies Own and drive operational excellence through measurable tools as MRP, forecast models, etc.Collaborate with Lucid's Procurement teams for an end-to-end strategy; including sourcing, contract negotiations, material supply and lifecycle management to ensure downstream operational excellence in ServicePartner with suppliers and internal Lucid stakeholders to establish continuous supply and strengthen our position through strong planning strategies while mitigating risk Partner closely with the Service NPI team to coordinate material and vehicle changes; including full lifecycle management of supply and compatibility configurations Collaborate with Distribution and Inventory teams to optimize channel planning and reduce inventory holding cost while building healthy field inventory
   QualificationsRelevant Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain or equivalent work experience; MBA is preferred8+ years in the Automotive industry related to Supply Chain with experience managing a team of direct reports Service/Spares supply chain knowledge is desired Strong knowledge of MRP and ERP functions Product launch, NPI or Start-Up experience is preferred Ability to organize and drive continuous improvement Exceptional ability to interface and collaborate with individuals, groups, and vendors Excellent oral and written communication skills Passion to continuously develop, improve, and maintain processes
   At Lucid, we don't just welcome diversity - we celebrate it! Lucid Motors is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, and any other characteristic protected under applicable State or Federal laws and regulations.
   
   Notice regarding COVID-19 protocols
   At Lucid, we prioritize the health and wellbeing of our employees, families, and friends above all else. In response to the novel Coronavirus all new Lucid employees, whose job will be based in the United States may or may not be required to provide original documentation confirming status as having received the prescribed inoculation (doses). Vaccination requirements are dependent upon location and position, please refer to the job description for more details.
   
   Individuals in positions requiring vaccinations may seek a medical and/or religious exemption from this requirement and may be granted such an accommodation after submitting a formal request to and the subsequent review and approval thereof by our dedicated Covid-19 Response team.
   
   To all recruitment agencies: Lucid Motors does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our careers alias or other Lucid Motors employees. Lucid Motors is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find materials planning managers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit materials planning managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 materials planning manager

   Once you've found the materials planning manager 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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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How much does it cost to hire a materials planning manager?