Materials Planner

Dr. Beckmann Group UK; Manchester; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Dr. Beckmann Group UK is seeking a planning-focused Materials Planner to secure raw materials and packaging aligned with the production plan across site.

You will own interface between materials supply and short-term production plan, monitor availability, and translate system requirements into call-offs and purchase orders. You will maintain SAP master data, review MRP outputs, manage supplier performance, and provide manual analyses when necessary.

Qualifications

• Highly organised with strong planning skills and ability to manage multiple changing priorities against fixed production deadlines.
• Analytical, comfortable interpreting MRP and other system data to identify exceptions, risks and the right course of action.
• Extensive work with data and spreadsheets, including building manual analysis where system tools do not fully cover a decision.
• High attention to detail around master data, pricing records and purchase order accuracy.
• Proactive and able to work autonomously, escalating constraints and issues in good time.
• Strong communicator, able to work cross-functionally with Production, Planning, Technical and the Global Procurement team.
• Knowledge of PowerBI is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Own the interface between materials supply and the short-term production plan, checking material availability against the plan on an ongoing basis.
• Carry out the daily/weekly MRP review, translating system-generated requirements into call-offs, purchase orders and delivery schedules.
• Identify and communicate material constraints that could affect production, escalating promptly so the plan can be adjusted.
• Work with Production and Planning to adjust requirements and sequencing when inbound material availability changes.
• Produce a forecast of likely long-term material requirements from contracts and sales forecasts, and agree the resulting purchase/delivery schedule with the Production Department.
• Maintain manual/spreadsheet-based analysis to support decisions outside standard MRP outputs.
• Continually monitor stock levels against requirement to ensure production schedules are met and no production time is lost due to material shortages.
• Manage inbound schedule and stock levels for all packaging materials to allow for planned changes.

Skills

Organisational skills

Analytical planning

MRP interpretation

Data & spreadsheets

Attention to detail

Autonomous / proactive

Cross-functional communication

Tools

SAP

PowerBI

Job description

You are the key point for material planning across the site, ensuring that raw materials and packaging are available to support the production plan without disruption to Production, Sales or Warehouse.

• Own the interface between materials supply and the short-term production plan, checking material availability against the plan on an ongoing basis.
• Carry out the daily/weekly MRP review, interpreting system-generated requirements and translating these into call-offs, purchase orders and delivery schedules.
• Identify and communicate material constraints that could affect production, escalating promptly so the plan can be adjusted where inbound supply will not support it.
• Work with Production and Planning to adjust requirements and sequencing when inbound material availability changes.
• Produce a forecast of likely long-term material requirements from contracts and sales forecasts, and agree the resulting purchase/delivery schedule with the Production Department.
• Maintain manual/spreadsheet-based analysis to support decisions that fall outside standard MRP outputs, and work towards embedding this knowledge into documented process wherever possible.
• Continually monitor stock levels against requirement to ensure production schedules are met and no production time is lost due to material shortages.
• Manage inbound schedule and stock levels for all packaging materials to allow for the planned introduction of design/pack/formulation changes.

Master Data & Systems

• Own and maintain relevant purchasing and material master data within SAP (or equivalent planning system).
• Maintain SAP price lists and purchasing price records, keeping these aligned with agreed supplier terms.
• Review MRP outputs to identify actions, exceptions and potential risks, and maintain the records needed to keep this analysis auditable.

Procurement.

• Act as the day-to-day point of contact for key suppliers, managing call-offs, delivery performance, queries and service issues.
• Call off raw materials and packaging from suppliers, and raise/manage purchase orders against required delivery dates.
• Monitor supplier confirmations and inbound delivery dates; expedite late materials or push back deliveries where required.
• Check invoices for discrepancies against orders raised and ensure credit is obtained where appropriate within the agreed timescale.
• Feed supplier performance, cost and service issues back to the Global Procurement team, who lead supplier selection, pricing and contract negotiation.

Additional Areas

• Create product build records (BOMs) prior to any SKUs going live and forward these to IT for input on the computer system.
• Provide information on all changes to the inventory list that affect production specifications to the Production and Technical Departments in good time for changes to be made as appropriate.
• As a trained Quality Auditor, participate in internal Quality Audits from time to time as per the Company’s ISO/BRC System requirements.
• Participate in the preparation and reconciliation of all four annual stock takes. End-of-year stock takes must not run into the Christmas break.
• Team member for proof approval sign-off for both ACDOPRO and delta.
• Attend artwork passes on press in line with agreed protocols.

This is a planning-led role. The successful candidate will be a highly organised, analytical planner first, with the operational discipline to also manage day-to-day supplier relationships and purchase orders.

• Highly organised, with strong personal planning skills and the ability to manage multiple, changing priorities against fixed production deadlines.
• Analytical, comfortable interpreting MRP and other system data to identify exceptions, risks and the right course of action.
• Extensive work with data and spreadsheets, including building manual analysis where system tools do not fully cover a decision.
• High attention to detail, particularly around master data, pricing records and purchase order accuracy.
• Proactive and able to work autonomously, escalating constraints and issues in good time rather than waiting to be asked.
• Strong communicator, able to work cross-functionally with Production, Planning, Technical and the Global Procurement team.
• A knowledge of PowerBI is highly desirable.