Materials Planner

Crafted Staff • Louisa, VA

10d • $60,000 - $70,000 • Onsite

About The Position

We specialize in sheet metal fabrication, welding, machining, coatings, and the design and build of turnkey mechanical systems. In addition to full system integration and production, we design custom equipment and collaborate with customers to refine and optimize their product designs. Our capabilities include UL 508A industrial control panels and electrical assemblies as part of broader engineered solutions. We are scaling rapidly to deliver engineered solutions across critical industries including defense, data infrastructure, industrial processing, and OEM manufacturing. Our capabilities are organized into five strategic verticals: Engineered Plant Equipment, OEM Equipment, Data Infrastructure, Defense & Secure Facility Components, and Contract Manufacturing. Position Overview: We are looking for an experienced MRP Planner / Buyer to own the day-to-day planning and procurement of direct materials for our fabrication and assembly operations. This role will use our Made2Manage (Aptian) MRP system to translate customer demand and production plans into detailed material requirements and realistic, finite-capacity schedules. You will be responsible for keeping the right materials in-house at the right time, balancing cost, lead time, and inventory, while aligning production plans with actual capacity on the floor.

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment in a Planner, Scheduler, Buyer, or MRP/ERP-focused role.
• Hands-on experience with an MRP/ERP system (experience with Made2Manage or other Aptian products is a plus).
• Solid understanding of bills of material, routings, lead times, safety stock, and basic manufacturing planning concepts (MRP I/II).
• Strong Excel skills and comfort working with data exports, pivots, and basic analysis.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, react to changes in demand, and keep production supplied with materials.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with suppliers and cross-functional internal teams.
• A disciplined planner who trusts the system but also understands when to challenge it.
• Someone comfortable on the shop floor talking with supervisors and operators, not just working behind a screen.
• A buyer who can balance cost, lead time, and risk, and who takes ownership of material availability and the production schedule.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience with finite capacity planning or detailed production scheduling is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Run MRP in Made2Manage to convert demand into planned work orders and purchase needs.
• Plan and procure all direct materials (steel, plate, tube, hardware, purchased components).
• Release POs, verify pricing/lead times, and maintain accurate dates in Made2Manage.
• Maintain inventory levels and safety stocks; prevent shortages through proactive planning.
• Ensure accurate item setup (lead times, mins, lot sizes, vendor data).
• Act as primary contact for suppliers—orders, confirmations, expediting, delivery issues.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and Receiving to resolve discrepancies and late or defective materials.
• Support cost reduction and supply continuity by sourcing alternatives and competitive quotes.
• Keep BOMs, routings, item data, and POs accurate in the system.
• Report key metrics (material availability, OTD to production, shortages, inventory turns).
• Identify and implement improvements in planning, scheduling, and purchasing processes.
• Build and maintain finite-capacity schedules for laser, press brake, welding, assembly, etc.
• Identify capacity constraints and coordinate with Operations to level load and prioritize work.
• Monitor schedule adherence and adjust daily/weekly based on actual production and customer changes.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Eligibility for a discretionary bonus based on company performance and individual contribution.
• Benefits package including health insurance and retirement plan participation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed