Material Planner

Continental Group Sector ContiTech•Halstead, KS

17d

About The Position

Continental is a leading tire manufacturer and industry specialist, founded in 1871, with around 95,000 employees in 54 countries and markets. ContiTech, a Continental group sector, provides industrial and service solutions across a range of sectors and materials, employing about 39,000 people in more than 40 countries. The Material Planner will join the operations team in Halstead and manage material flow, coordinate with production schedulers, and optimize inventory levels to support seamless manufacturing operations. The role works with production, procurement, and supply chain teams to forecast demand, plan material requirements, and maintain efficient production workflows.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
2–3 years of experience in material planning, production planning, inventory management, procurement, or supply chain operations; listed as preferred in the posting's required qualifications.
Proficiency with ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle, and MRP software.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to interpret complex data sets.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data analysis and reporting.
Solid understanding of production processes, lead times, and inventory management principles.
Experience with demand forecasting and inventory optimization techniques.
Excellent organizational and time management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills to coordinate across departments.
Attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in planning and data management.
Legal authorization to work in the United States; employment visa sponsorship is not available now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration, Logistics, or a related field.
Proficiency with SAP.
Experience in a manufacturing environment.
Familiarity with supply chain coordination and procurement processes.
Experience with forecasting tools or demand planning software.

Responsibilities

Review raw material requirements daily through the MRP system and identify upcoming material needs.
Develop and maintain material plans based on demand, inventory levels, lead times, and production requirements.
Support material forecasting and budget preparation by analyzing historical usage, current demand, inventory requirements, and anticipated material needs.
Monitor material availability and identify potential shortages, delays, or supply constraints.
Communicate with vendors and internal teams to confirm material availability and delivery dates.
Partner with Purchasing to process purchase requests for production materials and support the Halstead team with non-production material requests.
Coordinate with Production Scheduling to ensure material requirements are understood and changes in demand or supply are communicated.
Analyze inventory levels, historical usage, and demand trends to support material requirements and minimize excess inventory.
Use ERP/MRP systems to monitor material requirements, track inventory, maintain accurate records, and generate planning reports.
Support cycle counts, annual physical inventory, and ongoing inventory accuracy initiatives.
Investigate and help resolve material shortages, discrepancies, and supply issues that could impact production.
Prepare and maintain reports on inventory levels, material requirements, supplier performance, and planning accuracy.
Identify opportunities to improve material planning processes, inventory management, and supply chain efficiency.
Collaborate with Production, Purchasing, Warehouse, Quality, and other internal teams to support timely and efficient material flow.