Material Planner

Kraken Kinetics · Pinehurst, NC · 1 wk ago

On-siteManagement$80k–$100k/yrFull-time

About Kraken Kinetics

Kraken Kinetics designs and manufactures advanced kinetic solutions for the United States Armed Forces and its allies. Specializing in mission-tailored warheads and firing systems for unmanned and autonomous weapon platforms, Kraken Kinetics delivers production-ready solutions at speed to address urgent national security challenges. Our team brings decades of specialized Department of War experience across the full lifecycle of kinetic system development.

Position Summary

The Material Planner is responsible for ensuring materials are available to support production, testing, and customer delivery requirements across Kraken Kinetics programs. Reporting to the Operations Manager, this role serves as the organization's lead for demand planning, material planning, inventory strategy, and supply planning activities that enable efficient manufacturing operations and on-time program execution.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and maintain rolling demand forecasts based on production schedules, program requirements, engineering changes, and business development opportunities.
Translate forecasted demand into material requirements and supply plans.
Maintain planning-side ERP/MRP data, including demand assumptions, planning parameters, reorder logic, safety stock recommendations, forecast inputs, supply planning fields, and material readiness planning data.
Analyze forecast accuracy and continuously improve planning assumptions and methodologies.
Support Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) and short-term execution planning activities.
Execute Material Requirements Planning (MRP) activities to ensure materials are available to support manufacturing operations.
Monitor material availability and identify shortages, constraints, and supply risks before they impact production.
Develop material readiness plans for current and future production requirements.
Assess the impact of program changes, schedule accelerations, and new contract awards on material requirements.
Support rapid-response planning for urgent customer and operational requirements.
Maintain planning assumptions and inventory strategy inputs used to support MRP, supply planning, procurement recommendations, and material readiness decisions.
Analyze inventory performance and recommend actions to mitigate shortages, excess inventory, and slow-moving materials.
Conduct end-to-end supply chain lead-time analysis and identify gaps between customer demand timelines and supply chain capability.
Recommend inventory buffers, supplier agreements, or process improvements to mitigate lead-time risk.
Support inventory optimization initiatives that balance operational readiness with working capital objectives.
Provide Procurement with prioritized material requirements, forecast data, supply planning inputs, and procurement recommendations.
Support supplier forecasting activities by providing approved future material demand visibility to Procurement for supplier coordination and supply continuity planning.
Monitor supplier lead times and identify emerging risks that could impact material availability.
Cook with Engineering regarding new items, design changes, alternate materials, and bill of material updates.
Cook with Production, Programs, Quality, Procurement, Material Control & Logistics, and Operations to ensure material requirements, planning assumptions, and readiness risks are understood and acted on.
Support material readiness visibility, planning records, audit readiness, and customer documentation inputs related to material planning.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
3+ years of experience in material planning, production planning, supply planning, procurement, or inventory management within a manufacturing environment.
Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency.
Experience developing forecasts, material plans, and inventory strategies.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Strong communication, organizational, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred

APICS CPIM, CSCP, or similar supply chain certification.
Experience supporting defense, aerospace, or advanced manufacturing organizations.
Familiarity with FAR, DFARS, and government contracting environments.
Experience supporting S&OP, supply planning, or demand planning processes.
Experience with low-volume, high-complexity manufacturing operations.
Experience supporting a rapidly growing organization.

Salary & Benefits

This full-time, on-site exempt position offers an annual salary range of $80,000 - $100,000 depending on qualifications and experience. Benefits include Generous PTO policy, Comprehensive medical coverage (80% company-paid for employee + dependents), Vision & dental (100% company-paid), Short and long-term disability coverage (100% company-paid), Generous 401(k) retirement plan, Company-paid life insurance, Great teammates and well stocked snacks, and LIFE IN MOORE COUNTY, NC (PINEHURST AREA).

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and welcome applicants of all backgrounds.