Material Planner

About the role

The Material Planner is responsible for planning, ordering, and managing direct material supply to support production requirements across the manufacturing network. This role manages material forecasts, inventory levels, and supplier commitments to meet service, cost, and inventory targets.

Responsibilities

• Execute material planning and purchasing activities based on MRP signals to support production requirements
• Maintain accurate material forecasts, inventory levels, and supplier stocking programs
• Monitor material risk and proactively communicate constraints, shortages, and mitigation actions
• Manage material contract balances and coordinate with Accounting to resolve purchase order and invoice discrepancies
• Coincide material returns and disposition of defective or damaged materials
• Coordinate material returns and disposition of defective or damaged materials
• Partner with warehousing and internal teams to manage inventory levels, storage capacity, transfers, and material transitions
• Facilitate recurring supplier meetings and track performance metrics related to service, quality, and delivery
• Serve as the sourcing resource for innovation execution, supporting material readiness for trials and product launches
• Support sourcing initiatives, including RFP and RFQ processes, vendor selection, and cost optimization efforts
• Facilitate ERP material planning data, including purchase info records and MRP parameters, to support effective ordering
• Support sourcing initiatives, including RFP and RFQ processes, vendor selection, and cost optimization efforts

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in supply chain, sourcing, materials management, or a related field
• 3+ years’ functional use of planning systems and methodologies - Material Requirements Planning (MRP), SAP S/4HANA preferred
• 3+ years’ functional experience in automated Procure to Pay systems and process - Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), EDI, SAP S/4HANA preferred

Qualifications

• Proficient in ERP and MRP systems with operational knowledge of system integrations and data flows
• Working knowledge in SAP S/4HANA and advanced analytics tools such as Data Cubes and MS Power BI

Skills

• Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze data, identify trends, optimize inventory levels and material flow. Think and act strategically, understanding how the role contributes to the larger business outcomes
• Technical Expertise: Proficient in ERP and MRP systems with operational knowledge of system integrations and data flows. Working knowledge in SAP S/4HANA and advanced analytics tools such as Data Cubes and MS Power BI
• Customer Service Orientation: Committed to delivering exceptional experiences for internal teams, external partners, and paying customers. Maintains high standards of quality and responsiveness in all interactions
• Communication & Collaboration: Functions confidently with cross-functional teams and business partners in support of supply chain activities. Communicates proactively and effectively, tailoring messages to audience and context
• Results Oriented & Attention to Detail: Identifies opportunities for improvement and consistency across operations. Demonstrates persistence, accountability, and a high-performance standard for self and others
• Problem-Solving Abilities: Capable to identify issues, evaluate options and provide solutions. Participates in decision making, able to think critically and be creative driving effective resolutions
• Risk Management & Scenario Planning: Anticipates potential supply chain disruptions and evaluates alternative scenarios. Develops and implements mitigation strategies to minimize impact on inventory, cost, and service
• Process Improvement & Systems Optimization: Continuously seeks opportunities to enhance planning processes and system performance. Champions best practices and leverages technology to drive efficiency and scalability
• Influencing & Change Management: Guides stakeholders through process changes and system upgrades. Uses expertise and persuasive communication to gain buy-in and ensure successful adoption of new initiatives

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, company paid short- and long-term disability, life insurance, paid parental leave, paid time off to rest, paid holidays to have fun, a 401(k) with a company match
• 40 paid volunteer hours a year
• Participation in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Location

Hybrid combining working from home, and onsite in White River Junction VT roughly 2 to 4 visits per year. Ideal candidates will be located within 120 miles of our offices.

Pay

$61,600 to $83,200 annual salary; commensurate with experience.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Execute material planning and purchasing activities based on MRP signals to support production requirements
• Maintain accurate material forecasts, inventory levels, and supplier stocking programs
• Monitor material risk and proactively communicate constraints, shortages, and mitigation actions
• Manage material contract balances and coordinate with Accounting to resolve purchase order and invoice discrepancies
• Coincide material returns and disposition of defective or damaged materials
• Coordinate material returns and disposition of defective or damaged materials
• Partner with warehousing and internal teams to manage inventory levels, storage capacity, transfers, and material transitions
• Facilitate recurring supplier meetings and track performance metrics related to service, quality, and delivery
• Serve as the sourcing resource for innovation execution, supporting material readiness for trials and product launches
• Support sourcing initiatives, including RFP and RFQ processes, vendor selection, and cost optimization efforts
• Facilitate ERP material planning data, including purchase info records and MRP parameters, to support effective ordering
• Support sourcing initiatives, including RFP and RFQ processes, vendor selection, and cost optimization efforts

Experience And Education

• 3+ years of experience in supply chain, sourcing, materials management, or a related field
• 3+ years’ functional use of planning systems and methodologies - Material Requirements Planning (MRP), SAP S/4HANA preferred
• 3+ years’ functional experience in automated Procure to Pay systems and process - Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), EDI, SAP S/4HANA preferred

Competencies

• Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze data, identify trends, optimize inventory levels and material flow. Think and act strategically, understanding how the role contributes to the larger business outcomes
• Technical Expertise: Proficient in ERP and MRP systems with operational knowledge of system integrations and data flows. Working knowledge in SAP S/4HANA and advanced analytics tools such as Data Cubes and MS Power BI
• Customer Service Orientation: Committed to delivering exceptional experiences for internal teams, external partners, and paying customers. Maintains high standards of quality and responsiveness in all interactions
• Communication & Collaboration: Functions confidently with cross-functional teams and business partners in support of supply chain activities. Communicates proactively and effectively, tailoring messages to audience and context
• Results Oriented & Attention to Detail: Identifies opportunities for improvement and consistency across operations. Demonstrates persistence, accountability, and a high-performance standard for self and others
• Problem-Solving Abilities: Capable to identify issues, evaluate options and provide solutions. Participates in decision making, able to think critically and be creative driving effective resolutions
• Risk Management & Scenario Planning: Anticipates potential supply chain disruptions and evaluates alternative scenarios. Develops and implements mitigation strategies to minimize impact on inventory, cost, and service
• Process Improvement & Systems Optimization: Continuously seeks opportunities to enhance planning processes and system performance. Champions best practices and leverages technology to drive efficiency and scalability
• Influencing & Change Management: Guides stakeholders through process changes and system upgrades. Uses expertise and persuasive communication to gain buy-in and ensure successful adoption of new initiatives