Material Analyst

Ferrara

📍Itasca, IL
Posted May 23, 2026

Job Overview

Position

Material Analyst

Company

Ferrara

Location

Itasca, IL

Work Type

On-site

Job ID

li-4400646858

Job Description

**Work Location: Itasca**
Itasca, IL

Due to the highly interactive and team-based nature of this role, in-person attendance for most of the workweek (i.e., 3 days or more) is essential for: effective communication including during in-person meetings, strong supervision, real-time problem-solving, and participation in cross-functional initiatives.

**Want to make an impact?**
The Material Analyst is responsible for supporting the release, tracking, and expediting of raw and packaging materials to ensure seamless production operations. This role involves managing inventory, processing orders in SAP, and serving as a liaison between vendors, quality assurance, and production teams to resolve material-related issues and maintain schedule adherence.

**Ways you will make a difference**

  • Coordinate ordering and timely release of raw and packaging materials to support production schedules

  • Process and confirm purchase orders in SAP, assign purchase orders to requisitions

  • Monitor material deliveries and expedite when necessary to prevent production delays

  • Maintain inventory at optimal levels to ensure material availability while minimizing carrying costs

  • Perform and coordinate quarterly physical inventory counts and reconciliation

  • Ensure FIFO (First-In, First-Out) inventory management is followed

  • Act as primary liaison between warehousing, the plant, corporate material planning teams and quality for material-related issues

  • Verify accuracy of invoices by cross-checking against purchase orders and resolve discrepancies in pricing or quantity

  • Ensure accurate entry of incoming materials into the inventory management system

  • Collaborate with the Operations team to ensure schedule adherence and service rate targets based on material availability

  • Recognize and respond to abnormal usage trends that may indicate issues in supply or production

  • Utilize SAP and other systems to support inventory control and procurement functions

  • Ensure compliance with all standard operating procedures and internal controls

  • Provide input during planning and scheduling meetings to support efficient production flow

  • Assist in correcting Bills of Materials (BOMs) as needed

  • Coordinate inter-facility transfers of materials between plants and storage locations

**Skills that will make you successful**

  • Strong organizational and communication skills

  • Ability to work cross-functionally across production and departments

  • Excellent communication skills

  • Analytical mindset to identify tre4nds and solve inventory challenges

  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional manufacturing environment

**Experiences that will support your success**

  • Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or related field preferred

  • 2-4 Years of experience in material coordination, inventory control, or logistics within a manufacturing environment

  • Experience working with SAP or similar ERP systems in a manufacturing environment

  • Familiarity with production operations, supply chain workflows, and supplier coordination

  • Experience with Microsoft Office Suite

  • Familiarity with inventory control and procurement practices

**What We Offer**
At Ferrara, we’re proud to support our employees by providing comprehensive benefits such as health insurance, dental insurance, a 401(k), and paid time off (PTO). Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance. Learn more about our benefits at https://flimp.live/Ferrara-Candy-2025-OE-QR

Compensation
The salary range for this role is $61,950 - $86,730 annually.

Interview Prep

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Key Skills

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Practice Questions

💡Technical Questions (3)
  • 1.Can you walk me through your experience using SAP to manage purchase orders and inventory, specifically how you ensure data accuracy from order creation to goods receipt?
  • 2.How do you approach maintaining optimal inventory levels while minimizing carrying costs in a fast-paced manufacturing environment?
  • 3.Explain your understanding of FIFO (First-In, First-Out) inventory management and how you ensure compliance with this practice on the warehouse floor.
🎯Behavioral Questions (3)
  • 1.Tell me about a time when you had to expedite materials to prevent a significant production delay. How did you handle the situation?
  • 2.Describe a situation where you identified an abnormal usage trend in inventory. What was the issue, and how did you resolve it?
  • 3.Give me an example of a time you acted as a liaison between quality assurance, warehousing, and production to resolve a material-related issue.
🧩Situational Questions (2)
  • 1.You discover a pricing discrepancy on a major invoice that does not match the purchase order, but the vendor insists their price is correct and production is waiting on these materials. How do you handle this?
  • 2.You are in a planning meeting and realize that due to an unexpected supplier delay, a key raw material will not arrive in time for next week's production run. What immediate steps do you take?

Resume Keywords

Make sure these keywords appear on your resume

SAPInventory ControlPurchase OrdersFIFOProduction ScheduleCross-FunctionalBOMExpeditingInvoice ReconciliationSupply ChainMaterial Planning

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