Materials Planner

UNC Dairy•Town of Lancaster, NY

20d•$65,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Buyer Planner/Material Scheduler is responsible for managing the procurement and inventory planning functions to support UNC Dairy's manufacturing operations. This position ensures optimal material availability while minimizing inventory carrying costs through effective demand planning, supplier coordination, and production schedule alignment. The role requires strong analytical capabilities, ERP system proficiency, and the ability to collaborate across procurement, production, and quality functions.

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 in the plants to ensure outside warehouse Safety Stock levels are maintained
Monitor inventory levels and safety stock parameters; adjust planning parameters based on demand variability and lead times
Manage expediting activities and communicate material shortages proactively to stakeholders
Participate in the new product launch process in order to ramp up new part volume and qualify secondary sources of supply
Monitor the changeover of part codes and ensure disposition of inventory in the 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