Material Planner

V3 Recruitment; England; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is seeking a highly organized Material Planner for a manufacturing organization in England. This role involves planning and controlling materials to support production schedules. Key responsibilities include creating material plans, scheduling shipments, and collaborating across teams. Ideal candidates will have experience in logistics and supply chain management, excellent organizational skills, and proficiency with ERP systems. This is a full-time, permanent position with opportunities to contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of supply chain, logistics, and inventory management principles.
• Previous experience in a Logistics Planner, Materials Planner, or similar role.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain material requirement plans based on production schedules.
• Schedule inbound and outbound shipments to meet production timelines.
• Collaborate with production, warehouse, procurement, quality, and sales teams.

Skills

Supply chain knowledge

Logistics management

Inventory management

Organizational skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Material Planner

Employment type: Full-time, permanent

About the role

We are working in partnership with a leading manufacturing organisation to recruit a highly organised and proactive Logistics Planner / Material Planner. This is a key role within the supply chain team, responsible for planning, coordinating, and controlling materials and logistics to support production schedules and customer demand. You will ensure that the right materials are in the right place at the right time, while maintaining efficiency and managing costs.

Key Responsibilities

Material Planning

• Create and maintain material requirement plans (MRP) based on production schedules, forecasts, and customer orders
• Review Bills of Materials (BOMs) and inventory levels on a regular basis
• Manage raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods to maintain optimal stock levels
• Liaise with the logistics/purchasing teams to ensure timely ordering and delivery of materials
• Track supplier performance and resolve any shortages or delivery issues
• Monitor lead times and adjust planning parameters where required
• Coordinate engineering changes and product phase-ins/phase-outs with minimal disruption

Logistics Planning

• Schedule inbound and outbound shipments to meet production and customer timelines
• Work closely with logistics providers, freight forwarders, and internal teams to manage transport requirements
• Ensure compliance with domestic and international shipping regulations and documentation
• Optimise transport costs while maintaining service levels
• Track shipment status and take action to resolve delays
• Maintain accurate delivery calendars and proactively communicate any changes

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Collaborate with production, warehouse, procurement, quality, and sales teams
• Provide materials status updates in daily/weekly production meetings
• Contribute to capacity planning and production scheduling
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain

Systems & Reporting

• Generate and analyse reports on inventory, material usage, delivery performance, and logistics costs
• Investigate root causes of planning or delivery issues and support corrective actions
• Assist with the implementation or improvement of planning tools and systems

Key Skills & Experience

• Strong knowledge of supply chain, logistics, and inventory management principles
• Previous experience in a Logistics Planner, Materials Planner, or similar role
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability
• Confident communicator able to work cross-functionally
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing priorities
• High attention to detail and accuracy