How to hire a materials program manager

How to hire a materials program manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step materials program 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 program manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new materials program manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a materials program manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the materials program manager you need to hire. Certain materials program manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A materials program manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, materials program managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents materials program manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Materials Program Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Materials Program 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.	$39-73
   Director Of Sourcing	A director of sourcing is an executive professional who supervises a team of sourcing managers that manages the supply portfolio of a company to ensure spending transparency. This director is required to direct overseas factory meetings weekly to review product development and optimize the company's overall supply chain... Show more	$47-96
   Director Of Purchasing	A director of purchasing oversees the procedures related to buying resources and supplies, directing operations from planning to execution while adhering to standards and company policies. They primarily perform research and assessments to understand project needs in terms of price, quality, and delivery time... Show more	$32-79

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Supply Chain
   • Program Management
   • Supplier Management
   • Chain Management
   • Sigma
   • MRP
   • Opportunity Management
   • Logistics
   • Strategic Thinking
   • Production Control
   • MPM
   • Earned Value Management
   • IPT
   • BOM

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage key commodities such as displays, camera modules and sensors, batteries and other components.
   • Manage and develop multimillion-dollar programs as capture lead for DoD subcontracts and project submissions.
   • Negotiate and manage contracts for domestic, international transportation custom brokers, freight forwarders and other logistics services.
   • Manage implementation of referrals, coordinate assignment of new physicians and create support network for transitioning patients during clinic closure.
   • Lead and implement direct ship project for OEM customers.
   • Utilize BaaN ERP system to perform both new product and sustainment product master scheduling.

   More materials program manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the materials program manager job description is a good way to get more applicants. A materials program 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 program manager in Georgia may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level materials program manager. Additionally, a materials program manager with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average materials program manager salary

   $113,011yearly

   $54.33 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level materials program manager salary

   $83,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average materials program manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$141,615	$68
   2	New Jersey	$120,216	$58
   3	Pennsylvania	$119,890	$58
   4	Oregon	$118,142	$57
   5	Massachusetts	$115,557	$56
   6	Maryland	$111,863	$54
   7	Illinois	$110,285	$53
   8	Washington	$109,735	$53
   9	Idaho	$101,497	$49
   10	Indiana	$100,152	$48
   11	Virginia	$97,864	$47
   12	Arizona	$97,438	$47
   13	Arkansas	$96,401	$46
   14	Alabama	$95,482	$46
   15	Texas	$89,734	$43
   16	Georgia	$88,275	$42
   17	Colorado	$84,557	$41

   Average materials program manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$142,111	$68.32	128
   2	Apple	$140,220	$67.41	35
   3	Rivian	$129,869	$62.44	7
   4	Amazon	$128,072	$61.57	246
   5	Infinera	$127,666	$61.38
   6	Tesla	$126,951	$61.03
   7	Lucid Motors	$124,861	$60.03	11
   8	Lam Research	$122,609	$58.95	4
   9	Micron Technology	$121,247	$58.29	6
   10	Delta Air Lines	$120,002	$57.69	3
   11	Ichor Systems	$117,928	$56.70	1
   12	Intel	$115,999	$55.77	4
   13	Idaho National Lab	$114,275	$54.94
   14	Advance Green Energy	$114,245	$54.93
   15	Applied Materials	$113,574	$54.60	7
   16	ManpowerGroup	$110,418	$53.09	11
   17	ChargePoint	$109,075	$52.44
   18	Randstad North America, Inc.	$108,270	$52.05
   19	Axalta	$107,189	$51.53	1
   20	Sayres and Associates	$106,496	$51.20

4. Writing a materials program manager job description

   A materials program manager 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 materials program manager job description:

   Materials program 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.
   
   We are seeking a Materials Program Manager to support the Accessories program for Lucid Motors. This role will report to Service (After-Sales) Supply Chain and focus on ensuring operational success related to procurement and planning. The ideal candidate will be expected to demonstrate excellence in project management, product development, ability to learn quickly and to strive for perfection within a fast-paced environment
   
   The RoleLead the supply chain readiness program for the Accessories commodity Partner with stakeholders from Accessories Product Management, Retail Operations, Logistics, Procurement, Planning, etc.Track milestones, upcoming changes and own communication for stakeholders Collaborate with Supply Chain's functions to ensure a healthy supply plan and allocation strategy Identify potential suppliers and sourcing opportunities for new products Coordinate serviceability validation for introduction of new products into our supply chain lifecycle Evaluating product ROI and continuous improvement
   QualificationsBachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, or equivalent background Minimum 5 years of automotive, product retailing or equivalent combined experience Ability to organize and drive continuous program improvement Exceptional ability to interface and collaborate with individuals, groups, and suppliers Excellent oral and written communication skills Passion to continuously develop, improve, and maintain processes
   Advantageous ExperienceStartup experience focused on early service program development Purchasing and Planning knowledge Automotive passion and aptitude
   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

   To find the right materials program manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with materials program managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit materials program managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with materials program manager 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 program manager

   Once you've found the materials program 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 program manager?