Materials Planner

SIRE LIFE SCIENCES; Amersfoort; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

SIRE LIFE SCIENCES is seeking a Materials Planner to lead a European planning team and safeguard material availability for production. The role combines day-to-day execution with forward-looking, strategic planning in a fast-paced environment.

You will oversee raw and packaging material supply, collaborate with internal teams and suppliers, and drive continuous improvement across multiple sites in the Netherlands and nearby regions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level education in Supply Chain, Logistics or related field.
• Strong experience in materials planning / ERP planning.
• Proven ability to lead, guide, or coach a team (leadership a plus).
• Fluent in Dutch and English; German is a plus.
• Willingness to travel regularly to Dutch sites and occasionally to a German site.

Responsibilities

• Lead a materials planning team responsible for raw and packaging materials across multiple production sites.
• Manage end-to-end ordering process to ensure timely material availability.
• Monitor and optimise inventory while supporting working capital targets.
• Translate production plans into material requirements and adjust plans as schedules change.
• Coordinate supplier-related issues, delivery problems and purchase complaints.
• Ensure accurate order handling and invoice control with internal teams.
• Drive supplier performance reviews and actions on OTIF and inventory value.
• Develop contingency approaches to reduce risk and improve supply reliability.
• Support escalations when supply risks impact production and align with stakeholders.
• Identify improvement opportunities and implement practical solutions.

Skills

SAP proficiency

Materials planning

Supply planning

People leadership

Dutch/English fluency

Education

Bachelor-level education in Supply Chain

Tools

SAP ERP

Job description

Company

Our client is a well-established, international food production and ingredients organisation with multiple manufacturing sites in Europe. They operate in a fast-paced supply chain environment where service, quality, and continuity of production are critical. The culture is professional, collaborative, and focused on continuous improvement.

Job Description

For our client, we are looking for a Materials Planner to lead a small European materials planning team and ensure the timely availability of raw and packaging materials for production. The Materials Planning Team Lead (SAP) balances day-to-day operational priorities with a more tactical, forward-looking approach, working closely with internal stakeholders and suppliers to protect supply continuity.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a small materials planning team responsible for raw and packaging material availability across multiple production sites.
• Manage the end-to-end ordering process for materials, ensuring orders are placed accurately and on time.
• Monitor and optimise inventory levels while supporting working capital targets.
• Translate production plans into material requirements and adjust plans when schedules change.
• Coordinate and resolve supplier-related issues, including delivery problems and purchase complaints.
• Ensure accurate order handling and invoice control in collaboration with relevant internal teams.
• Drive performance management for the materials planning scope, including supplier delivery performance (e.g., OTIF) and inventory value.
• Prepare and run structured supplier performance reviews and align on improvement actions.
• Build and maintain contingency approaches to reduce risk and improve supply reliability.
• Support escalations when supply risks impact production, and align actions with key stakeholders.
• Identify improvement opportunities and take ownership for implementing practical solutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor-level education (Supply Chain, Logistics, or a related field).
• Strong experience in materials planning / supply planning / ERP planning.
• Proven ability to lead, guide, or coach a team (formal people leadership is a plus).
• Solid SAP proficiency (required).
• Fluent in Dutch and English (German is a plus).
• Strong communication skills and confident stakeholder management.
• Proactive, improvement-minded, and able to challenge the status quo constructively.
• Willingness to travel regular to a Dutch production site and occasionally to a German site.
• Temporary Full‑Time Contract (6Months)

Other Information

The role is based in the Netherlands with a mix of on‑site and hybrid working, depending on business needs. Regular interaction with production, procurement, and suppliers is key, and the successful candidate will be comfortable operating in a time-sensitive supply environment.