Lead Material Planner 12 Month Fixed Term Contract

Gleeson Recruitment Group; Kidderminster; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Lead Material Planner to drive the materials planning function within a dynamic manufacturing environment. This pivotal role involves managing a small team, optimizing planning processes, and ensuring material availability aligns with production schedules. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in materials planning, experience with MRP/ERP systems, and advanced Excel skills. Join a forward-thinking company that values inclusivity and continuous improvement, where your contributions will significantly impact the supply chain operations and overall efficiency.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in materials planning within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of MRP principles and inventory management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of material planners for high performance.
• Support the implementation and optimization of MRP/ERP systems.
• Analyze material demand and inventory trends to mitigate disruptions.

Skills

Materials Planning

Supply Chain Management

Team Leadership

Data Analysis

Communication Skills

Continuous Improvement

Education

Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering

APICS/CPIM certification

Tools

MRP/ERP systems (e.g. SAP, Epicor, Oracle, Infor)

Excel

Job description

The Role

As the Lead Material Planner, you will be responsible for managing and developing a small team of planners, while also being hands-on with day-to-day planning activities. The core focus of the role is to shape and drive the materials planning function - ensuring the right materials are available at the right time, supporting production schedules, and contributing to efficient supply chain operations.

This is a key role in supporting our journey to implement a robust MRP/ERP system and requires someone who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with a proactive mindset and strong data handling capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a small team of material planners to deliver high performance.

• Own and evolve the material planning processes to support production schedules and inventory targets.

• Work cross-functionally with procurement, production, engineering, and logistics to ensure material availability aligns with operational priorities.

• Support the implementation and optimisation of an MRP/ERP system, including data migration, process mapping, and user training.

• Maintain and improve Excel-based planning tools and dashboards where needed, especially during system transition phases.

• Analyse material demand, inventory trends, and supply risks; take proactive steps to mitigate disruptions.

• Develop KPI reporting to monitor planning accuracy, supplier performance, and stock levels.

• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and drive continuous improvement in planning and materials management.

• Ensure accuracy of BOMs, part master data, and other key planning inputs in ERP systems.

About You

• Proven experience in a materials planning or supply chain planning role within a manufacturing environment - ideally low volume, high value.

• Previous experience leading or mentoring a small team.

• Demonstrated experience in supporting or leading the implementation of an MRP/ERP system (e.g. SAP, Epicor, Oracle, Infor, etc.).

• Advanced Excel skills - capable of building and maintaining complex spreadsheets for planning, forecasting, and reporting.

• Strong understanding of MRP principles, inventory management, and demand planning.

• Comfortable working with ambiguity and taking initiative to create structure and clarity.

• Excellent communication skills, able to work cross-functionally and influence stakeholders at all levels.

• Highly analytical with attention to detail and a continuous improvement mindset.

Desirable Qualifications

• Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field.

• APICS/CPIM certification or equivalent.

• Experience in engineering or project-based manufacturing environments.

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.