Material Planner

Kevin's Natural Foods•Stockton, CA

About The Position

The Material Planner will manage and maintain purchase orders for direct sourced raw materials and packaging using MRP/SAP based systems or processes. This role involves daily interaction with suppliers, managing supplier delivery performance KPIs, and tracking shipments to ensure timely delivery. The planner will support factory operations, production teams, and buyers by mitigating supply issues and managing inventory replenishment. They will also manage dynamic forecasts, replenishment planning, and communicate daily issues with internal teams. Key responsibilities include managing supplier lead times, MOQs, and transit times, organizing the internal flow of materials, expediting materials as needed, and escalating challenging supply issues. The role also involves participating in continuous improvement programs to reduce costs and improve quality and lead-time, and implementing cost-saving strategies. A strong ability in decision-making, critical thinking, and problem-solving is essential for this dynamic, fast-paced supply chain environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business related field or similar.
Minimum 1-2 years’ experience in material planning or scheduling, inventory management and working with vendors/suppliers.
Working knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems: Specifically using SAP/MRP systems or alternative system to manage inventory, knowledge of the process, must be able to comfortably navigate and execute in the commonly used screens or environments.
Great communication and conflict management skills is a must.
Must be proficient at reading, math, written and verbal communication.
Must have intermediate computer skills with a good working knowledge of spreadsheets, high proficiency in Excel preferred.
Must be a team player with good work ethic and ability to work under pressure.
Excellent attention to detail and ability to prioritize and multi-task effectively.
Extensive experience in Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.
Extensive experience in Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of relationship management techniques; ability to establish, develop and maintain healthy working relationships with suppliers, internal cross functional teams, and peers.

Responsibilities

Manage and maintain purchase orders for direct sourced raw materials and packaging using MRP/SAP based systems or processes.
Work with suppliers on a daily basis and manage Supplier Delivery Performance (On Time In Full) KPIs, proactively following up on purchase order delivery dates and quantities.
Track shipments via ASNs for ground and ocean freight to ensure timely delivery and receipt at the correct warehouse.
Support factory operations and production team, buyers and purchasing activities, mitigate supply issues and inventory replenishment/replacement due to inventory adjustments or non-conforming material, establish root cause and corrective action.
Manage dynamic forecasts and replenishment planning for materials to ensure specified customer service levels are met.
Communicate daily issues, including specification changes, deviations, late deliveries, etc. with factory production team and category buyers.
Manage Supplier Lead Times, MOQs and Transit times.
Organize the internal flow of materials within the manufacturing unit/factory and the transferring of materials to and from the inventory or warehouse.
Expedite raw materials and packaging materials from approved suppliers as needed with consideration for cost and value.
Escalate challenging supply issues to category buyers and related stakeholders in a timely manner after exhaustion of efforts.
Participate and implement continuous improvement programs to reduce improve quality, lead-time, and reduce costs.
Develop and implement cost-saving strategies without compromising quality or service.
Apply knowledge of decision-making process and associated tools and techniques to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions.
Apply knowledge of approaches, tools, and techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems.
Systematically manage distribution of inventory for multiple plants or warehouses.
Other duties as assigned or necessary.