Associate Manager, Material Planner

Novugen; Nilai; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Novugen is seeking an experienced Associate Manager, Material Planning in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The role focuses on managing and optimizing material planning and supply chain processes, ensuring timely PR creation and direct materials per approved specs.

You will be versed in pharmaceutical material planning and SAP PP/MM modules. Responsibilities include developing planning schedules, executing MRP, monitoring inventory, and coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure material

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management or related preferred.
• 8-10 years of relevant experience.
• Experience in Pharma, FMCG or healthcare material planning.
• CPSM or CSCP certification is an added advantage.
• Lean manufacturing knowledge is an added advantage.
• Proficient in using ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP MM/PP).
• Strong communication, planning and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Material planning execution to ensure timely availability per planning strategies.
• Develop and maintain material planning schedules from production forecasts and demand.
• Execute MRP in SAP to ensure uninterrupted material availability.
• Monitor inventory levels to minimize shortages and obsolescence.
• Coordinate with Procurement, Production, Warehouse, QA and Supply Chain teams.
• Prepare and present inventory and planning performance reports.
• Support new product launches and engineering changes with material readiness.
• Ensure GMP, GDP compliance in all planning activities.
• Follow FEFO/FIFO and manage planning KPIs to drive improvement.

Skills

Analytical skills

Time management

Communication & presentation

Intrapreneurial mindset

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management or related

Tools

SAP ERP (PP/MM)

MRP

Microsoft Office

Job description

Novugen is a wholly owned subsidiary company of a UAE based group, SciTech International. With over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, the company is equipped with vast and successful experience of venturing into strategic healthcare businesses and development of world-class healthcare facilities around the globe. Novugen’s passion for science and bold global strategy prepared us to respond to challenges of bringing hard-to-source and technology-intensive pharmaceutical products to the market.

Novugen specializes in niche and difficult to formulate generics for all therapeutic areas of pharmaceutical and oncology drug products while meeting stringent global quality standards. With vertical integration from Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) to Finished Products R&D and manufacturing based in Malaysia, it gives us greater control over the supply chain. Our pharmaceutical and oncology manufacturing facilities in Bandar Enstek, Negeri Sembilan are the first in Malaysia and the only in Southeast Asia with approval from USFDA.

The people behind Novugen are professionals coming from diverse backgrounds and nationalities from all over the world, working together to achieve one common goal. We are committed to ensuring early access to high-quality products that lack robust generic alternatives due to their complexity. Our vision is to be the largest and fastest growing pharmaceutical company in Southeast Asia by 2025, competing in global markets.

About the Role

The Associate Manager, Material Planning is responsible in managing and optimizing Novugen Material Planning and Supply Chain processes, ensuring timely requirement generation and Purchase Requisition (PR) creation of direct materials as per approved specifications and material codes. The incumbent will be well verse in areas of pharmaceutical material planning and supply chain planning.

Key Responsibilities

• Material planning execution as per the Company’s material planning strategies to ensure timely availability of materials and components. Analyze forecast /demand reports received from demand planning team
• Hands-on experience with SAP ERP & Proficiency in SAP Production Planning (PP) Module.
• Develop and maintain material planning schedules based on production forecasts, sales demand, and manufacturing requirements.
• Execute Material Requirements Planning (MRP) in SAP to ensure uninterrupted material availability for production.
• Monitor and optimize inventory levels to minimize stock shortages, excess inventory, and material obsolescence.
• Coordinate with Procurement, Production, Warehouse, Quality Assurance, and Supply Chain teams to ensure timely material availability.
• Analyze demand forecasts and production plans to identify material requirements and capacity constraints.
• Track supplier delivery performance and proactively resolve potential material shortages.
• Maintain accurate planning parameters, master data, and ensure correct Bills of Materials (BOMs) is in place in SAP.
• Review inventory reports and recommend actions to improve inventory turnover and reduce carrying costs.
• Support new product launches, product transfers, and engineering change activities by ensuring material readiness.
• Prepare and present inventory, material availability, and planning performance reports.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, GDP, and company quality standards in all planning activities.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance planning efficiency and supply chain performance.
• Follow up with QA/QC on the release of Finished Goods and raw materials as per manufacturing schedule/dispatch schedule.
• To generate monthly Management Information System (MIS) report for previous months’ transactions/activities such as material usage, inventory levels and supplier performance.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, safety regulations, quality and industry standards for all material planning activities
• Monitor material shelf life and expiry, ensuring FEFO/FIFO practices are followed to minimize write-offs while maintaining GMP compliance
• Own and monitor key planning KPIs such as material availability, inventory turns, stock-outs, supplier OTIF, and planning accuracy to drive continuous improvement.
• Prepare data for Finance reporting
• Optimize planning parameters (e.g., safety stock, reorder points, lead times, lot sizes) and drive inventory optimization to improve service levels.

About You

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Inventory Management or related preferred
• Related experience from Pharma, FMCG, and Healthcare industries, specifically in Material Planning section
• 8-10 years of relevant experience
• Possess Professional certifications such as Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) is an added advantage
• Knowledge in Lean Manufacturing principles is an added advantage
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Proficient in using MRP or ERP systems / software / tools relevant to supply chain management, pharmaceutical or healthcare industry etc. e.g. SAP system on MM/PP Module
• Excellent time management, analytical, planning and organizational skills
• Demonstrated ability to communicate, present and influence credibly and effectively to both internal and external stakeholders
• Strong intrapreneurial skills and mindset from start up to established organization
• Versatile and resilient, ability to stay positive in ambiguous environments and work towards delivering results