Materials Planner

UNC Dairy•Town of Lancaster, NY

3d•$65,000 - $85,000

About The Position

The Buyer Planner/Material Scheduler manages procurement and inventory planning to support UNC Dairy’s manufacturing operations. The role ensures material availability while minimizing carrying costs through demand planning, supplier coordination, and alignment with production schedules. It requires analytical capabilities, ERP proficiency, and collaboration across procurement, production, and quality functions. The position executes MRP processes in SAP, determines material requirements across manufacturing facilities, monitors inventory and safety stock, manages purchase orders and supplier relationships, and supports new product introductions and sourcing decisions. It also contributes to S&OP/IBP processes, supplier performance reporting, process improvement, inventory optimization, and compliance with food safety and dairy industry standards. The work is primarily in an office, with occasional visits to manufacturing facilities and potentially supplier locations (less than 10% travel). Standard business hours apply, with flexibility during peak production periods. Physical requirements include prolonged sitting and computer use, and the ability to wear appropriate PPE when visiting production areas. Pay is $65,000–$85,000 per year. The total rewards package may include group health and/or dental insurance, a retirement plan, wellness program, paid time away from work, and paid holidays.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
3–5 years of experience in material planning, procurement, or production scheduling roles.
Proven experience working with MRP/ERP systems in a manufacturing environment.
SAP proficiency; MM module experience is strongly preferred.
Strong understanding of MRP logic, lot sizing, lead-time management, and inventory optimization.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and data analysis.
Ability to analyze complex data sets and translate findings into actionable insights.
Understanding of procurement best practices, including RFQ/RFP processes, contract management, and supplier negotiations.
Knowledge of production scheduling principles and capacity planning.
Familiarity with demand planning and forecasting methodologies.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

APICS certification (CPIM, CSCP, or CLTD).
Dairy or food manufacturing industry experience.
Experience with SAP IBP, APO, or other advanced planning systems.
Knowledge of dairy co-operative operations and seasonal demand patterns.
Understanding of food safety regulations, including SQF, HACCP, and GMP.
Experience implementing process improvements or system enhancements.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to influence across organizational levels.
Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and external suppliers.
High attention to detail in planning parameters, purchase order management, and documentation.
Adaptability in managing changing priorities and operational demands.
Continuous improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

Execute MRP processes in SAP to generate purchase requisitions and maintain optimal inventory levels.
Analyze demand forecasts and production schedules to determine material requirements across manufacturing facilities.
Coordinate material flow with plant Raw Material Inventory Planners to maintain outside warehouse safety stock levels.
Monitor inventory and safety stock parameters, adjusting planning parameters based on demand variability and lead times.
Manage expediting activities and proactively communicate material shortages to stakeholders.
Support new product launches by ramping up new part volume and qualifying secondary supply sources.
Monitor part-code changeovers and ensure inventory in outside warehouses is appropriately dispositioned.
Issue purchase orders and manage supplier relationships for assigned commodity categories.
Negotiate pricing, terms, and delivery schedules with suppliers to meet cost and service objectives.
Track supplier performance, including on-time delivery, quality, and responsiveness.
Collaborate with Quality Assurance on incoming material inspections and non-conformance resolution.
Support vendor onboarding and maintain accurate vendor master data in SAP.
Partner with Production, Quality, Raw Material Inventory Planners, and R&D to align material planning with operational needs.
Participate in S&OP/IBP processes to incorporate demand signals into material planning.
Coordinate material sourcing and qualifications for new product introductions.
Provide input on make-vs-buy decisions and alternative sourcing strategies.
Identify opportunities to streamline procurement and planning processes.
Maintain supplier performance KPI dashboards.
Support continuous improvement initiatives for inventory optimization and cost reduction.
Ensure compliance with food safety regulations and dairy industry standards.