Materials Planner

Job Summary

Responsible for purchasing, order management, and logistics to mitigate risk and enable profitability. Aligns purchases with the business strategies and financial goals.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Purchases and provides order fulfillment activities in support of business demand to positively impact inventory turns and ensure predictable and accurate supplier on-time delivery.
2. Manages the order status process, including ensuring shipping and delivery information is accurate in the company's systems. Ensures post-Purchase Order (PO) placement updates are complete following the PO backlog management process, including tracking, reporting, and communication with team members, and working with suppliers to meet deliveries.
3. Develops and manages relationships with suppliers to hold them accountable for meeting shipping and delivery commitments, including system and process improvements at both the company and supplier levels.
4. Negotiates pricing with suppliers and provides quotes to the sales team to support customer opportunities.
5. Coordinates with warehouse and logistics teams, including transportation carriers, to ensure products are received and delivered on time; leads, drives, and supports process improvements.
6. Manages non-conforming inventory, including product disposition and in-process failures.
7. Provides timely communication to planners, sales, and customer operations regarding order status and problem resolution.
8. Assists in managing inventory aging and fill rate, including disposition strategies such as stock rotation and liquidations, to meet business goals.
9. Supports key initiatives and objectives of the group or organization through contributions to project teams, including supplier management activities.
10. Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Level Specifications

1. Thorough knowledge of principles, theories, and concepts in the discipline. Competent in all job functions with a general understanding of industry practices, techniques, and standards.
2. Develops solutions for various situations and works on projects requiring evaluation and analysis. May refer to policies, practices, and precedents for guidance; determines the best course of action to achieve results.
3. Works independently, exercising judgment and discretion. May receive limited guidance for new assignments. Work may be reviewed for overall adequacy.
4. Collaborates with management and team members within the department and other areas of the organization. May represent the department internally or externally.
5. Actions impact the success of the department and organization. Failure to accomplish work or erroneous decisions may lead to project delays, revenue loss, or additional resource allocation.

Work Experience

• Typically 3+ years with a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.

Education and Certifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience providing comparable knowledge and skills.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The statements describe the general nature and level of work performed. They are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills.