Material Planner

Carl Zeiss Microscopy Limited; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Career development

Job summary

Carl Zeiss Microscopy Limited in Cambourne, Cambridge is seeking a skilled Material Planner to join our global technology team. You will manage material planning across products, review forecasts, monitor MRP outputs and collaborate with Purchasing, Production and Logistics to maintain material availability and optimize inventory.

You should have hands-on experience in manufacturing environments, strong MRP knowledge, and familiarity with SAP or similar ERP systems.

Qualifications

• Experience in manufacturing, engineering or production environments.
• Strong understanding of MRP and material planning principles.
• Experience using SAP or similar ERP/MRP system.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience managing inventory, shortages and material availability.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Structured approach and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Manage material planning activities across products and planning areas.
• Review demand forecasts and production requirements to ensure material availability.
• Monitor MRP outputs and identify shortages or supply risks.
• Collaborate with Purchasing, Production and Logistics to resolve material issues.
• Support inventory optimisation and working capital objectives.
• Manage material requirements through product introductions, engineering changes and transitions.
• Analyse planning data and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Contribute to a proactive and collaborative planning environment.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Structured approach

Tools

SAP

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Material Planner ZEISS | Cambourne, Cambridge (Hybrid Working)

Are you an experienced Material Planner, Production Planner or Supply Chain professional looking to join a global technology leader? ZEISS is at the forefront of scientific innovation, developing world-class technology and equipment used across research, industry and advanced manufacturing. Due to continued development within the Supply Chain function, we are looking to recruit two Material Planners to support our Electron Microscopy business in Cambourne. This is an excellent opportunity to join a collaborative team where you'll play a key role in ensuring materials are available to support production, while balancing inventory levels and mitigating supply chain risks.

What you'll be doing

• Managing material planning activities across a range of products and planning areas
• Reviewing demand forecasts and production requirements to ensure material availability
• Monitoring MRP outputs and identifying potential shortages or supply risks
• Working closely with Purchasing, Production and Logistics teams to resolve material issues
• Supporting inventory optimisation and working capital objectives
• Managing material requirements through product introductions, engineering changes and product transitions
• Analysing planning data and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement
• Contributing to a proactive and collaborative planning environment

What we're looking for

We are keen to speak with candidates from manufacturing, engineering or technical production environments who have experience planning materials, components or production requirements.

You may currently be working as a:

• Material Planner
• Materials Planner
• Production Planner
• Supply Planner
• Manufacturing Planner
• Materials Controller

To be successful, you'll ideally have:

• Experience within a manufacturing, engineering or production environment
• Strong understanding of MRP and material planning principles
• Experience using SAP or a similar ERP/MRP planning system
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Experience managing inventory, shortages and material availability
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• A structured approach and strong attention to detail

Desirable

• Experience Aerospace, defence, industrial engineering, scientific instrumentation or other complex manufacturing environments
• Power BI, Excel or data analysis tools
• NPI, ECO or product lifecycle planning activities
• Inventory optimisation and supplier management experience

Why Join ZEISS?

• Join a globally recognised technology and engineering brand
• Work within a highly collaborative Supply Chain team
• Play a key role supporting complex, high-value products
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Long-term career progression within a global organisation

Interested? We'd love to hear from Material Planners, Production Planners and Supply Chain professionals who are looking to take the next step in their career with a world-leading technology business.

Location Cambourne, Cambridge (Hybrid Working)

We look forward to receiving your application regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, philosophy of life, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity.

Step out of your comfort zone, excel and redefine the limits of what is possible. That's just what our employees are doing every single day - in order to set the pace through our innovations and enable outstanding achievements. After all, behind every successful company are many great fascinating people. In a spacious modern setting full of opportunities for further development, ZEISS employees work in a place where expert knowledge and team spirit reign supreme. All of this is supported by a special ownership structure and the long-term goal of the Carl Zeiss Foundation: to bring science and society into the future together. Join us today. Inspire people tomorrow.