Materials Planner

Smithfield Foods • Nashville, TN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Smithfield is seeking a Materials Planner to join their team. This role is pivotal in supply chain management, responsible for strategic sourcing decisions, balancing internal and external raw material procurement, and exceeding key performance metrics. The Materials Planner will plan production capacity with precision, balancing inventory capital costs, capacity constraints, plant efficiencies, and customer fill rate objectives. This position oversees inventory planning at manufacturing facilities and third-party distribution centers to ensure seamless operations supporting Smithfield Foods. Additionally, the role acts as a key liaison for supply chain projects, coordinating efforts with business partners to improve efficiency and performance. The Materials Planner will communicate with stakeholders about capacity constraints and limitations at internal manufacturing locations, collaborating with facilities and suppliers to schedule production in alignment with sales activity, all while optimizing costs for the best possible outcome.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Operations Management, Supply Chain Management or related field and 2+ years of relevant experience in supply chain, operations, planning and inventory control or similar required or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficient in Excel & PowerPoint.
• Works well under pressure with limited supervision and be able to make immediate value-based decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication Skills.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Strong ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong organizational skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Effectively interact with all levels of management.
• Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.
• Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in other areas of the supply chain such as purchasing, customer service, demand planning or logistics is a plus.
• Consumer Packaged Goods Industry experience, preferred.
• APICS certification preferred, CPIM or CSCP a plus.
• Experience in planning software is a plus.
• SAP experience a plus.

Responsibilities

• Ensure master scheduling, product replenishment, and inventory management metrics are met using planning software and departmental processes.
• Identify action items, leverage resources, and follow up on supply planning issues to drive efficiency.
• Own and manage the stock transport order (STO) lifecycle from creation to closure, ensuring seamless execution.
• Oversee and optimize inventory levels at distribution centers and plants by implementing stocking policies, seasonal builds, and coordinated storage strategies.
• Support initiatives to decrease inventory alert levels and reduce inventory distress sales across assigned product categories.
• Make strategic sourcing decisions, ensuring the optimal balance between internal and external raw material procurement.
• Collaborate with both internal and external suppliers to guarantee timely deliveries and sufficient quantities that maximize plant production schedules.
• Execute freeze/thaw strategies across the network, creating supply buffers to effectively manage demand fluctuations and seasonality, ensuring continuous production efficiency.
• Lead the enforcement and utilization of capacity planning models for assigned product categories, ensuring optimal resource allocation and production efficiency.
• Support and provide strategic direction regarding capacity availability and limitations for both existing and new production.
• Collaborate with upstream and downstream business partners to strengthen process opportunities and enhance operational effectiveness across the company.
• Take ownership of resolving key shortage issues, proactively identifying solutions and communicating them to upper management.

Benefits

• Robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs
• Out-of-pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less than plans offered by other employers
• Be Well programs offer tools and resources to enhance your quality of life, at no additional cost
• Support for elective surgeries, weight loss, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, maternity management
• Comprehensive training and professional development programs
• LinkedIn Learning access on-demand courses, professional certificates, and skill-based training
• Tuition assistance covering English language learning, high school completion, and degree programs
• Leadership development initiatives
• Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level