Material Planner

Gleeson Recruitment Group; England; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a skilled Material Planner to optimize material availability and support manufacturing operations. In this pivotal role, you will coordinate with suppliers, track inventory, and develop advanced Excel tools to enhance supply chain efficiency. Your analytical skills and ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders will be crucial as you prepare reports and presentations for leadership teams. If you thrive in a dynamic environment and are passionate about driving continuous improvement, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in material planning in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of MRP/ERP systems and planning processes.

Responsibilities

• Ensure timely planning of materials to meet production schedules.
• Develop advanced Excel-based planning tools to track supply metrics.

Skills

Material Planning

Supply Chain Analysis

MRP/ERP Systems

Advanced Excel Skills

Communication Skills

Problem Solving

Education

Degree in Supply Chain, Business, or Engineering

Tools

Excel

Job description

The Role

As a Material Planner, you will play a critical role in managing material availability to support manufacturing operations. You will be responsible for coordinating with suppliers, tracking inventory, and ensuring optimal material flow. The ideal candidate will be highly analytical, excel-savvy, and confident in communicating with internal and external stakeholders-including presenting updates to leadership teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure timely and accurate planning of materials to meet production schedules and customer demands.

• Monitor inventory levels and optimise stock to avoid shortages or excesses.

• Develop and maintain advanced Excel-based planning tools and reports to track key supply metrics.

• Liaise closely with suppliers to manage deliveries, resolve issues, and improve performance.

• Collaborate with purchasing, production, engineering, and logistics teams to align supply with demand.

• Prepare and deliver reports and presentations to leadership teams on material status, risks, and recommendations.

• Support continuous improvement initiatives to streamline planning processes and enhance supply chain efficiency.

• Manage change control and coordinate part phase-ins and phase-outs in line with production needs.

Skills & Experience Required

• Proven experience as a Material Planner, Supply Chain Analyst, or similar role in a manufacturing or automotive environment.

• Strong understanding of MRP/ERP systems and planning processes.

• Advanced Excel skills are essential (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, formulas, data analysis; VBA is a plus).

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills - able to engage effectively across departments and levels.

• Comfortable presenting data and performance updates to leadership teams.

• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities under pressure.

• Problem-solving mindset with a proactive and collaborative approach.

Desirable Qualifications

• Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering or a related discipline.

• Experience within the automotive sector or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.

• Familiarity with Lean or Six Sigma methodologies.

At Gleeson Recruitment Group, we embrace inclusivity and welcome applicants of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. We are proud to be a disability confident employer.

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