Material Requirements Planning Manager 2

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems is seeking a dynamic, results‑driven a Material Requirements Manager 2 to lead the planning function that synchronizes material supply with production schedules for defense‑grade products and systems. This role will be with our Advanced Weapons (BU) located in Northridge, CA. 

The position is on-site in the Northridge, CA location and there is no remote work.

The Material Requirements Planning Manager 2 ensures the right parts, components, and raw materials are available at the right time, in the required quantity, and to the strict quality and security standards demanded by defense contracts. The manager drives continuous improvement of MRP processes, maintains compliance with regulations (e.g., ITAR, DFARS), and works closely with engineering, manufacturing, procurement, and quality teams.

Key Responsibilities

• MRP Process Leadership: Develop, maintain, and continuously improve the MRP master plan for defense programs. Generate and release accurate material plans on a weekly/bi‑weekly basis. Align MRP outputs with production schedules, engineering change notices, and forecast updates.
• Inventory Management: Monitor inventory levels against target buffers and safety stock. Conduct regular excess/obsolete reviews and coordinate disposition actions.
• Collaboration & Communication: Serve as the liaison between engineering, manufacturing, procurement, and logistics to resolve material shortages or excesses. Participate in program review meetings, risk‑based reviews, and Earned Value Management sessions.
• Regulatory & Security Compliance: Ensure all material planning activities comply with ITAR, EAR, DFARS, and any customer‑specific security requirements. Maintain accurate traceability for controlled items and classified components.
• Systems & Tools: Oversee configuration and optimization of ERP/APS systems (e.g., SAP MM/PP, Oracle JD Edwards, IFS). Develop and maintain custom reports, dashboards, and KPIs such as schedule‑performance index, inventory turns, and backlog accuracy.
• Continuous Improvement: Lead Kaizen/Lean initiatives to reduce lead times, improve forecast accuracy, and increase on‑time delivery. Implement demand‑driven planning methods such as Kanban, CONWIP, or DRP where appropriate.
• Team Development:  Mentor and develop a team of planners and analysts. Conduct training on MRP fundamentals, system usage, and compliance requirements.
• Risk Management: Identify material supply risks (single‑source parts, geopolitical constraints) and develop mitigation strategies (dual sourcing, buffer stock, alternative materials).
• Reporting: Provide senior leadership with weekly and monthly status reports covering material availability, backlog health, and variance analysis.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related technical field with 5+ years of progressive experience in material planning or a Master’s degree with 2+ years of the same experience.
• 3+ years in a supervisory or managerial role with a team of 10 or more in cross‑functional teams and drive process‑improvement initiatives
• Proven experience within the defense or aerospace sector, handling classified or controlled items.
• Expertise in ERP/APS systems (SAP PP/MRP, Oracle JD Edwards, IFS, or similar). Advanced Excel/Power Query, SQL reporting, and data‑visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau).
• Familiarity with ITAR, DFARS, FAR, and related export‑control regulations.
• Strong quantitative skills for interpreting complex bills of materials (BOMs), routings, and demand forecasts.
• Active US Government Secret security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or professional certifications such as APICS CPIM, CSCP, or PMP.
• Lean/Six‑Sigma expertise, preferably Black Belt certification.
• Hands‑on experience with demand‑driven planning concepts (DRP, DDMRP).
• Knowledge of additive manufacturing or advanced materials used in defense systems.
• Demonstrated success in improving inventory turns or on‑time delivery metrics in a defense environment.

Primary Level Salary Range: $121,100.00 - $181,700.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.