Material Planning Manager

Position Overview:

To ensure that strategic material planning processes are in place to enable operational and production continuity. Takes a coordinating lead, working closely with internal and external parties to ensure supply of materials is in place to satisfy production requirements. Able to deliver efficient, effective and flexible solutions to meet production requirements.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the material planning team to ensure timely and accurate planning of raw materials, components, and subassemblies.
• Develop and maintain material requirements planning (MRP) strategies in SAP or other ERP systems.
• Collaborate with procurement and suppliers to ensure on-time delivery and resolve material shortages or delays.
• Analyze demand forecasts, production schedules, and inventory levels to create optimized material plans.
• Monitor and manage inventory levels, safety stock, and obsolescence to achieve inventory targets and avoid stockouts.
• Drive continuous improvement in planning processes, tools, and KPIs (e.g., OTIF, inventory turns, days of supply).
• Support new product launches and engineering changes by ensuring material readiness and supply continuity.
• Lead cross-functional meetings with procurement, production, quality, and logistics to ensure alignment on material flow and priorities.
• Establish and report on key metrics related to material planning performance.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, industry regulations, and internal controls related to materials management.

People Management:

• Manage, coach and develop a high performing team that meets agreed objectives, and which delivers best practice results, added value and continuous improvements
• Set departmental objectives/KPIs and review and assess ongoing performance of direct reports
• Monitor and ensure that staff under supervision maintain accurate material schedules to get the right materials on site at the right time
• Ensure that the function operates in accordance with any health, safety and environmental policies and procedures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of self, staff and visitors

Financial Budget and Control:

• Input and hold responsibility for Material Planning budgets

Relationship Management:

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to forecast, plan and facilitate on-time materials to the production line as and when required avoiding disruption to production
• Take lead on internal and external relationships to ensure consistent, timely and effective communication regarding material availability
• Work with cross functional teams to deliver effective solutions
• Liaise with stakeholders on product change requests and review and communicate the impact on material planning and schedules
• Support new business initiatives and projects and contribute to review meetings and change process. Ensure effective material planning implementation takes place relating to the changes
• Develop and maintain good relationships with suppliers and ensure demand for materials is met and deliveries made on time
• Design, develop and implement processes and work with suppliers on continuous improvement initiatives
• Contribute to the assessment and sourcing of suppliers in conjunction with members of the purchasing team
• Contribute to supplier meetings and negotiations to ensure demand for materials is met
• Resolve supplier concerns and evaluate supplier performance in conjunction with members of the purchasing team
• Work closely with the purchasing team to ensure purchasing strategies are maximized

Self Management:

• Comply with the Health, Safety and Environmental Policies
• Support, encourage and develop team
• Proactively contribute to creating a good team atmosphere
• Anticipates and overcomes obstacles
• Makes useful links to arrive at insightful plans and solutions
• Embraces personal challenge
• Confident, rounded thinking
• Takes ownership for team cohesion
• Is self self-aware
• Is resilient, optimistic and open to change
• Has an Adult: Adult, collaborative approach to others
• Self-starter and able to motivate others
• Flexible and works well under pressure

Minimum Requirements:

• Experience with SAP S/4HANA, MDG (Master Data Governance), or Winshuttle.
• Certification in data management or SAP-related areas (e.g., SAP Certified Application Associate).
• Knowledge of lean principles or Six Sigma is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Logistics, Business, or a related field. Master's degree is a plus.
• Significant experience of working in a materials planning role and managing the smooth supply of materials in line with production requirements and budget, ideally within automotive or manufacturing
• Proven people management skill set
• Expert knowledge and understanding of a variety of manufacturing and automotive processes and components and of supply chain management
• Experience in handling supplier relationships
• Strong IT systems knowledge and skills including advanced Excel skills
• Good working knowledge and experience of using Material Requirements Planning (MRP) systems or similar
• Experience of delivering results through cross-functional working
• Knowledge of lean techniques may be advantageous
• Membership of an appropriate professional body would be advantageous

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