Senior Materials Planner

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Materials Planner / Buyer to manage end-to-end material availability and ensure uninterrupted production operations. This role is responsible for planning, procurement coordination, inventory management, supplier follow-up, and ERP/MRP execution across a broad range of purchased materials and external processing services.

The ideal candidate is highly analytical, hands-on, and comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where maintaining material availability while optimizing inventory and costs is critical.

Key Responsibilities

Material Planning & ERP/MRP Management

• Execute daily and weekly material planning activities using ERP/MRP systems.
• Convert demand forecasts and production schedules into material requirements.
• Monitor and manage purchase requirements, order releases, rescheduling, and inventory replenishment activities.
• Maintain planning-related master data, including lead times, safety stock levels, lot-sizing parameters, supplier information, and bill-of-material accuracy.
• Support new product launches, engineering changes, and material phase-in/phase-out activities.
• Coordinate inventory rotation and material control practices to ensure proper stock management.

Supplier Coordination & Procurement Support

• Manage material supply schedules and coordinate deliveries with suppliers.
• Monitor supplier performance and proactively address supply, capacity, and delivery risks.
• Coordinate external processing requirements and material flow with subcontractors and service providers.
• Work cross-functionally with production, quality, purchasing, and logistics teams to resolve material-related issues.
• Support supplier performance reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.

Inventory Management

• Ensure optimal inventory levels while supporting production requirements and working capital objectives.
• Analyze inventory trends and identify opportunities to reduce excess, slow-moving, and obsolete stock.
• Support inventory accuracy initiatives, cycle counts, and physical inventory activities.
• Balance service levels, lead times, supplier constraints, and storage capacity requirements.

Data Analysis & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain high levels of data integrity within ERP systems.
• Analyze planning and inventory performance metrics and recommend improvements.
• Drive process enhancements that improve material availability, planning accuracy, and operational efficiency.
• Support ongoing supply chain and operational excellence initiatives.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in materials planning within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong hands-on experience with ERP/MRP systems and production planning processes.
• Solid understanding of inventory management principles, lead-time planning, safety stock, and demand planning concepts.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Hands-on, proactive working style, comfortable on the shop floor and with daily firefighting.