Materials Planner

OVERVIEW

As a Material Planner, you will be in charge of making sure we have the right materials at the right time to support our production and business goals. This role requires an analytical, proactive professional who can translate demand forecasts into concrete material plans, mitigate supply risks, and drive continuous improvement. You'll be the primary user of our ERP/SAP system, and you will report to the Manager of Supply Chain Planning.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

1. Material Planning & Optimization

• Execute and monitor Material Requirements Planning (MRP) runs to generate precise material procurement proposals, ensuring alignment with production schedules and forecasts.
• Maintain accurate planning parameters in SAP/ERP, including lead times, minimum order quantities (MOQs), safety stock, and reorder points, to optimize inventory levels and working capital.
• Conduct demand analysis, collaborating with the Demand Planning team to enhance forecast accuracy and address potential material gaps.
• Partner with the Finance team to align material strategies with monthly working capital targets.

2. Inventory Management

• Monitor daily stock positions, safety stock levels, and expiry risks.
• Identify slow-moving, obsolete, and excess inventory; propose and execute corrective actions.
• Collaborate with the warehouse team on cycle counting and reconcile any variances to ensure data accuracy in the ERP system.
• Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as stockouts, service levels, and inventory accuracy, and lead root cause analysis for any failures.

3. Production & Cross-Functional Support

• Validate material availability against production schedules and act as the first point of contact for any production-related material issues, resolving shortages quickly by working internally & externally with suppliers.
• Provide key insights and data on inventory projections and supply constraints to the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) cycle to support strategic decision-making.
• Analyze and support seasonal and promotional campaigns by developing proactive material buildup strategies in coordination with Marketing and Production teams.
• Ensure the right material plans are in place to support factory volume transfers or supplier transitions.

4. Risk Mitigation & Compliance

• Proactively monitor and act on MRP exception messages, escalating supply risks and developing contingency plans to prevent disruptions.
• Support supplier risk mitigation by providing data on single-source or high-risk materials to Procurement.
• Collaborate with Procurement to implement strategies such as dual-sourcing and to share demand forecasts to improve overall supply chain reliability.
• Ensure full regulatory and compliance adherence by tracking shelf-life and working with Quality Assurance (QA) to manage blocked or quality-restricted stock.

5. Performance & Reporting

• Track, analyze, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) such as service levels, stockout frequency, inventory turns, and forecast accuracy.
• Maintain monthly dashboards to support decision-making and provide insights to cross-functional teams for continuous improvement.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU

• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, operations or engineering.
• 2-4 years of experience in a material planning, production planning, or inventory management role within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven proficiency in SAP/ERP systems, specifically with transactions related to MRP, master data, and inventory reporting.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable plans.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a track record of successfully working with cross-functional teams.
• A proactive, detail-oriented, and structured approach to problem-solving and risk management.

WHAT WE OFFER

At Perfetti Van Melle, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, where all individuals, regardless of background or identity, are valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives to the sweet success of our candy-loving community. Additionally, we have a core value of Care For Our People and we are proud to offer benefit programs that support our team members' goals and well-being including:

• PTO package including vacation, sick, personal, and pay it forward time off
• 13 paid holidays
• 401k with Company Match up to 8%, ranking in the top 1% of the country
• Annual Bonus potential and merit-based increases
• Comprehensive Health Insurance
• Annual well-being subsidy
• 20 weeks Maternity & 12 weeks Paternity leave options
• Sam's Club or Costco annual membership reimbursement
• Tuition-Free College Program or Free Continued Education (BA, Masters, etc.)
• Modest monthly candy allotment (Airheads, Airheads Xtremes, and Mentos)

Join a 2024 NKY Best Workplace by applying today!

Perfetti Van Melle, USA is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.