Materials Planner

Company

Our client is a well-established, international food production and ingredients organisation with multiple manufacturing sites in Europe. They operate in a fast-paced supply chain environment where service, quality, and continuity of production are critical. The culture is professional, collaborative, and focused on continuous improvement.

For our client, we are looking for a Materials Planner to lead a small European materials planning team and ensure the timely availability of raw and packaging materials for production. The Materials Planning Team Lead (SAP) balances day-to-day operational priorities with a more tactical, forward-looking approach, working closely with internal stakeholders and suppliers to protect supply continuity.

• Lead and support a small materials planning team responsible for raw and packaging material availability across multiple production sites.
• Manage the end-to-end ordering process for materials, ensuring orders are placed accurately and on time.
• Monitor and optimise inventory levels while supporting working capital targets.
• Translate production plans into material requirements and adjust plans when schedules change.
• Coordinate and resolve supplier-related issues, including delivery problems and purchase complaints.
• Ensure accurate order handling and invoice control in collaboration with relevant internal teams.
• Drive performance management for the materials planning scope, including supplier delivery performance (e.g., OTIF) and inventory value.
• Prepare and run structured supplier performance reviews and align on improvement actions.
• Build and maintain contingency approaches to reduce risk and improve supply reliability.
• Support escalations when supply risks impact production, and align actions with key stakeholders.
• Identify improvement opportunities and take ownership for implementing practical solutions.

• Bachelor-level education (Supply Chain, Logistics, or a related field).
• Strong experience in materials planning / supply planning / ERP planning.
• Proven ability to lead, guide, or coach a team (formal people leadership is a plus).
• Solid SAP proficiency (required).
• Fluent in Dutch and English (German is a plus).
• Strong communication skills and confident stakeholder management.
• Proactive, improvement-minded, and able to challenge the status quo constructively.
• Willingness to travel regular to a Dutch production site and occasionally to a German site.
• Temporary Full‑Time Contract (6
  
  Months)

The role is based in the Netherlands with a mix of on‑site and hybrid working, depending on business needs. Regular interaction with production, procurement, and suppliers is key, and the successful candidate will be comfortable operating in a time-sensitive supply environment.