Materials Planning Manager

AkzoNobel; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

25 days holiday

Income protection

Staff discount

Employee Assistance Programme

Employee Life Assurance

Company pension

Product discounts

Flexible benefits scheme

Job summary

AkzoNobel is seeking a Materials Planning Manager to lead the RMP Planning team in Gateshead and oversee replenishment strategies. You will drive availability of raw materials, optimize inventory, and coordinate with regional and global planning teams to ensure smooth production scheduling.

You will work with SAP-based planning systems, manage master data, and monitor KPIs while collaborating with Procurement, Manufacturing and R&D to deliver continuous improvements.

Qualifications

• Degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Economics or equivalent.
• APICS certification or proven experience in production scheduling and stock control.
• Experience in procurement, planning or supply chain in high-volume manufacturing.
• Fluent English; willing to travel internationally.
• Strong understanding of MRP processes and planning systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the RMP Planning team to ensure effective supply planning.
• Maintain raw material availability and optimized inventory levels.
• Review requirement plans and supply plans across sites.
• Improve MRP outputs and data quality for planning accuracy.
• Define replenishment strategies for RMP materials.
• Manage master data and KPIs; drive continuous improvements.
• Provide SAP support and coordinate with global planning tools.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Procurement and R&D.

Skills

Analytical skills

Inventory management

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

MRP knowledge

Supply chain coordination

Education

Degree in Supply Chain Management or related

APICS certification or equivalent

Tools

SAP

Job description

About AkzoNobel

Since 1792, we’ve been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help to color people’s lives and protect what matters most. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance the fabric of everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering and long-established paints company that’s dedicated to providing sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let’s paint the future together.

Materials Planning Manager

AkzoNobel Felling

Competitive Salary & Market Leading Benefits Package

We encourage you to apply if you have relevant experience and expertise for this role, even if you don’t meet all the criteria listed in the job description.

We’ve been pioneering a world of possibilities to bring surfaces to life for well over 200 years. As experts in making coatings, there’s a good chance you’re only ever a few meters away from one of our products. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and have set our sights on becoming the global industry leader. It’s what you’d expect from the most sustainable paints company, which has been inventing the future for more than two centuries.

Job Purpose

You will lead the Raws and Packaging Planning team for the MPY business, acting as a key point of contact for escalations, projects and continuous improvement initiatives. You will be responsible for ensuring a consistent and effective replenishment service, managing risks and resolving issues to maintain high levels of raw material availability across our production sites. You will also provide guidance and support to drive tactical and strategic improvements to RMP planning processes, working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, regional Transformation and global Centre of Excellence teams, and cross-business material planning teams.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead the RMP Planning team, providing guidance, support and direction to ensure effective supply planning.
• Ensure raw material availability, optimised inventory levels and purchase order integrity through effective use of planning systems.
• Manage and review requirement plans and supply plan alignment for RMP materials across the sites within your responsibility.
• Drive improvements to MRP outputs and material planning parameters to improve master data quality, supply chain efficiency and process automation.
• Define and implement replenishment strategies for RMP materials in line with the wider business strategy.
• Validate and approve key planning parameters including safety stock, lead times and ABC-XYZ classifications.
• Proactively identify supply risks and opportunities for improvement and ensure appropriate actions are implemented.
• Own relevant KPIs, reviewing performance and driving corrective actions through the appropriate MDI Tier structures.
• Own the maintenance and accuracy of master data, ensuring effective product lifecycle management in collaboration with Procurement and R&D.
• Lead the RMP SLOB process, developing and implementing strategies to reduce slow-moving and obsolete stock.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across RMP planning processes, working with regional Transformation, Digital and global Centre of Excellence teams.
• Support the implementation of new processes, best practice and digital planning tools.
• Work closely with Manufacturing and Logistics/Inbounds teams to ensure local requirements are considered within the Materials Planning process.
• Participate in daily Tier 3 site reviews and provide appropriate supply planning input.
• Support SAP users to ensure the system is used effectively and efficiently.
• Provide input into inventory and replenishment policies for materials supplied into the business.

Job Requirements

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Economics or another relevant discipline.
• Alternatively, relevant professional qualifications such as APICS, or appropriate training and experience in production scheduling, materials requirements planning and stock control.
• Experience in procurement, purchasing, materials planning or supply chain, preferably within a high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of production planning and the interdependencies with Materials Planning.
• Strong understanding of MRP processes, planning systems and system flows.
• Experience in inventory management and differentiated stock strategies.
• Experience of working with planning parameters, master data and supply planning processes.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Fluent English, with experience of working across different countries or cultures desirable.
• Willingness to undertake some international travel where required.

What Makes You Stand Out

• Strong communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• A collaborative approach and ability to build effective relationships across functions and countries.
• Experience of leading or delivering continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience of SLOB reduction and inventory optimisation.
• Experience working with SAP or similar supply chain planning systems.
• Experience of working with regional, global or cross-functional supply chain teams.
• A proactive approach to identifying opportunities, resolving issues and delivering sustainable improvements.

What Do We Offer At AkzoNobel

We offer great personal development opportunities and roles with breadth, depth of scope and impact. We also offer comprehensive packages including:

• Competitive Salary (depending on experience).
• 25 days holiday excluding bank holidays.
• Income protection.
• Staff discount at Dulux Decorator Centre stores.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Employee Life Assurance.
• Company pension.
• Product discounts.
• Flexible benefits scheme offering benefits including Gymflex, retail card, dental cover and more!

For more information please visit www.akzonobel.com

© 2026 Akzo Nobel N.V. All rights reserved.

At AkzoNobel we are highly committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful workplace where all employees can be their best self. We strive to embrace diversity in a context of tolerance. Our talent acquisition process plays an integral part in this journey, as setting the foundations for a diverse environment. For this reason we train and educate on the implications of our Unconscious Bias in order for our TA and hiring managers to be mindful of them and take corrective actions when applicable. In our organization, all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age or disability.