Materials Planner

Join the Our Talent Network•Lancaster, NY

19d•Hybrid

About The Position

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, a large dairy cooperative owned by over 200 local family farms, is seeking a Buyer Planner/Material Scheduler. This role is crucial for managing procurement and inventory planning to support the manufacturing operations of UNC Dairy. The position ensures that materials are available when needed while minimizing inventory costs through effective demand planning, supplier coordination, and alignment with the production schedule. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills, proficiency in ERP systems, and the ability to collaborate effectively with procurement, production, and quality teams.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field.
Minimum 3-5 years of experience in material planning, procurement, or production scheduling roles.
Proven experience working within MRP/ERP systems in a manufacturing environment.
SAP proficiency required (MM module experience strongly preferred).
Strong understanding of MRP logic, lot sizing, lead time management, and inventory optimization.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, data analysis).
Ability to analyze complex data sets and translate 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 (SQF, HACCP, GMP).
Experience implementing process improvements or system enhancements.

Responsibilities

Execute MRP processes within SAP to generate purchase requisitions and maintain optimal inventory levels.
Analyze demand forecasts and production schedules to determine material requirements across all manufacturing facilities.
Coordinate material flow with Raw Material Inventory Planners to ensure outside warehouse Safety Stock levels are maintained.
Monitor inventory levels and safety stock parameters, adjusting planning parameters based on demand variability and lead times.
Manage expediting activities and proactively communicate material shortages to stakeholders.
Participate in the new product launch process to ramp up new part volume and qualify secondary sources of supply.
Monitor the changeover of part codes and ensure disposition of inventory in outside warehouses.
Issue purchase orders and manage supplier relationships for assigned commodity categories.
Negotiate pricing, terms, and delivery schedules with suppliers to achieve cost and service objectives.
Track supplier performance metrics 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 teams to align material planning with operational needs.
Participate in S&OP/IBP processes to incorporate demand signals into material planning.
Support new product introductions by coordinating material sourcing and qualifications.
Provide input on make-vs-buy decisions and alternative sourcing strategies.
Identify opportunities to streamline procurement and planning processes.
Maintain KPI dashboards for supplier performance.
Support continuous improvement initiatives related to inventory optimization and cost reduction.
Ensure compliance with food safety regulations and dairy industry standards.