Material Planner

The Role
A detail-oriented and highly organised Material Planner. The Material Planner will be responsible for ensuring the timely availability of materials required for distribution and other business operations, optimizing inventory levels, and contributing to the overall efficiency of our supply chain. This role requires close coordination with various departments, suppliers, and internal teams to meet business needs while maintaining cost efficiency and minimizing excess inventory.

Key Tasks

• Plan and manage the timely procurement of materials, ensuring that they meet customer schedules, quality standards, and budgetary constraints.

• Collaborate with Sales, procurement, and logistics teams to forecast material requirements based on sales forecasts and historical data.

• Monitor material inventory levels and make recommendations to optimize stock, reducing excess and obsolete inventory.

• Develop and maintain accurate material schedules, ensuring alignment with manufacturing timelines.

• Liaise with suppliers/vendors to ensure the timely delivery of materials and resolve any supply chain issues.

• Analyze inventory discrepancies and implement corrective actions to prevent shortages and excess stock.

• Review material shortages, expedite orders, and adjust inventory levels to ensure uninterrupted production.

• Maintain accurate records of material transactions and forecasts, and generate regular reports on material usage, inventory levels, and procurement status.

• Maintain the gap between cost and sell by identifying opportunity for resourcing and defending requests for price increases

• Working with suppliers' transport and internal teams to move product in the most cost-effective way avoiding the use of express freight bringing goods in at the lowest landed cost.

We are seeking a service-driven individual with excellent attention to detail and strong communication skills, both verbal and written. We require a strong understanding of Material Planning or a similar role across supply chain, Logistics or Manufacturing. Familiarity with Microsoft Outlook is required, and experience with Dynamics 365 (D365) would be beneficial, though training will also be given.

The successful candidate will be self-motivated, physically capable, and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment while meeting deadlines. Strong organizational skills, the ability to prioritise tasks, and a proactive approach to problem-solving are essential. Building and maintaining positive relationships with both internal and external customers is a key part of this role.