Material Planner

Antenna Research Associates Inc•Laurel, MD

20h

About The Position

The Materials Planner will be responsible for supporting the material acquisition plans and must have the ability to work with the programs stakeholders in generating material requirements and providing the necessary support of acquisition plans from start to finish. The Material Planner works closely with internal teams, including production, logistics, procurement and finance, to align procurement planning activities with business needs and resolve issues related to quality, delivery, or payment.

Requirements

Experience in procurement, supplier management, or supply chain operations within a manufacturing environment; DoD experience preferred.
Proficiency in procurement software or enterprise systems (e.g., CostPoint preferred, Oracle).
Strong understanding of procurement processes, supplier development, and risk mitigation strategies
Experience in supplier relationship management, supply-base diversity, and cost optimization
Strong communication and analytical skills to influence stakeholders and develop solutions to ambiguous or multifaceted problems
Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and work across multiple systems simultaneously
Attention to detail
Maintain and analyze data within enterprise systems (Costpoint preferred, Oracle or similar ERP).
Interpret engineering drawings and Bills of Material (BOMs) to support material planning and procurement decisions.
Utilize Microsoft Office tools, particularly Excel, to analyze data and generate reports
Demonstrate strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Bachelor’s degree and 2-4 years of experience in supply chain, Business, Operations, or a related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience considered.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with cross-functional teams such as production, logistics, and finance to forecast needs and adjust procurement strategies accordingly
Coordinate forecasts, workload, expediting, and acquisition priority working with broader supply chain organization
Manage inventory levels in coordination with internal teams to meet production and operational demands
Audit and monitor stranded materials using inventory aging reports, forecasts, and engineering change notices.
Initiate procurement requirements/requests and track the status of deliveries to ensure on-time receipt
Collaborate with procurement to research, evaluate, and select suppliers based on quality, cost, service, and reliability
Interact with vendors to achieve favorable outcomes on procurements
Maintain accurate procurement records including purchases, pricing, and vendor performance data
Resolve supplier issues related to delivery delays, quality discrepancies, or invoice/payments
Ensure compliance with company policies, industry regulations, and contractual obligations
Coordinate warranty issues and communicate with manufacturers regarding replacements or repairs
Monitor market trends, supplier innovations, and cost drivers to identify opportunities for process or cost improvement