Material Planning Manager - Kennesaw, GA

Material Planning Manager – Kennesaw, GA

Role

Purpose:

The Material Planning Manager is a critical leader in the supply chain organization, responsible for developing and executing strategies for raw materials and inventory management across multiple sites. This role ensures end‑to‑end material flow alignment within the S&OP and S&OE process, balancing service, cost, and working capital. The role combines strong analytical skills with leadership capabilities to ensure material availability, optimize inventory, and drive alignment between Procurement, Supply Planning, and Manufacturing.

You will own the material planning and inventory control processes, champion best practices, and deliver long‑term improvements that create value for the business.

• Material Planning & Inventory Control
  • Lead the material planning team to ensure timely and accurate execution of MRP and purchasing activities.
  • Oversee inventory control processes, ensuring accuracy and optimization across multiple sites.
  • Prepare and analyze KPIs for material planning and inventory performance; implement corrective actions as needed.
  • Execute manual purchasing and inventory adjustments when required to meet business needs.
  • Govern safety stocks, inventory classifications, and the inbound OTIF process.
  • Proactively action any expiring/at‑risk materials to avoid business impacts or financial write‑offs.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
  • Act as the material planning lead within the S&OP process, ensuring alignment between demand, supply, and procurement plans. Provide clear visibility of material risks and constraints during Supply Review and S&OE forums.
  • Partner with Procurement, Supply Planning, and manufacturing to ensure production schedules are met on time.
  • Collaborate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve material shortages and mitigate risks.
  • Support alignment between material availability and manufacturing requirements.
• Process & Capability Building
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives across purchasing and inventory management processes.
  • Develop and standardize planning playbooks, KPIs, and governance models for material planning and inventory control.
  • Mentor and develop team members to build capability and ensure succession readiness.
  • Champion a data‑driven culture and improve planning accuracy through better master data and analytics.
• Strategic Focus
  • Lead long‑term improvement projects to enhance material planning efficiency and inventory health.
  • Contribute to supply chain strategy by optimizing working capital and improving service levels.

• Bachelor’s degree required;
  Supply Chain, Operations, Business, Engineering, or related field preferred.
• 5–10 years of experience in material planning, purchasing, or inventory management, with leadership experience.
• Proven ability to lead teams, influence decisions, and manage complex supply chain processes.
• Expertise in:
  • ERP systems (SAP, IFS, or similar) and MRP execution.
  • Inventory optimization and material planning best practices.
  • KPI reporting and root cause analysis for continuous improvement.
• Strong communication, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills.

• Advanced Excel; experience with ERP systems and planning tools.
• Ability to translate data into actionable insights and clear recommendations.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills under pressure.

• “We help each other thrive” – Provide support and training across material planning and inventory processes, demonstrating customer focus (internal and external).
• “We create the environment for diversity, equity, and inclusion to strengthen us” – Foster collaboration across functions and sites, listen actively, and incorporate diverse perspectives into decision‑making.

• Material availability consistently meets production requirements.
• Inventory accuracy and optimization improve across all sites.
• KPIs for purchasing and inventory control show sustained improvement.
• Long‑term process improvements deliver measurable value to the business.

• Base pay 80,400.00 –  per year.
• Annual bonus potential.
• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with match, paid time off, parental leave, tuition assistance, and more.

All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.