Materials Planning Manager

Sikaag; Gastonia (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k with company match

Bonuses

Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits

Paid Parental Leave

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Paid time off & holidays

Floating holidays & volunteer time

Wellness reimbursements

Education assistance

Professional development opportunities

Employee referral program

Job summary

Sika seeks a Materials Planning Manager to own material availability, production scheduling, capacity planning and inventory accuracy at the Gastonia site. You will coach the planning team, set KPIs, and act as the site owner of SAP master data (BOMs, recipes) and SAP issue resolution affecting inventory and customer shipments.

Requirements include 5+ years in supply chain/materials management in manufacturing, SAP MM/PP experience, and APICS/ASCM certification a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in relevant field.
• APICS/ASCM CPIM/CSCP or equivalent certification is a plus.
• 5+ years in supply chain/materials management in manufacturing (auto/IATF preferred).
• 3-5 years hands-on SAP MM/PP experience; strong Excel/Word skills.

Responsibilities

• Own material availability, production scheduling, capacity planning and inventory accuracy.
• Lead, coach and develop the planning team; set KPIs and goals.
• Manage SAP master data (BOMs, recipes), inventory, and handling units.
• Oversee raw material ordering, packaging inventory, and FIFO; manage repack and returnable packaging.
• Publish weekly production schedule and monitor inventories to support on-time shipments.
• Lead continuous improvement for inventory accuracy and global/local process alignment.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Business or related field

Tools

SAP MM/PP

Excel

Word

Job description

Overview of the Role :

The Materials Planning Manager owns material availability, production scheduling, capacity planning and inventory accuracy for the site so that every customer shipment leaves on time. You will manage, develop and coach the planning team, set departmental KPIs and individual goals, and serve as the site owner of SAP master data (BOMs, recipes, inventory) and the first point of contact for SAP issues affecting inventory and customers.

What We Are Looking For!

• Ensure all safety policies are followed within the factory and the MP&L department.
• Maintain procedures that meet IATF 16949 and customer-specific requirements.
• Oversee production planning; ensure materials and scheduling processes are developed and followed by the team.
• Publish the weekly production schedule and monitor production so inventories support on-time shipments.
• Maintain capacity planning for all equipment and labor, review material, equipment and manpower constraints for potential bottlenecks.
• Partner with Project Management and schedulers on phase-in/phase-out of engineering changes and new products to minimize obsolescence.
• Communicate recovery plans directly with customers as needed.
• Work with the materials planner to manage raw material ordering and potential shortages; develop and implement raw material inventory procedures.
• Oversee site purchasing activities and resolve invoice issues.
• Oversee returnable packaging inventory and manage the repack department; ensure FIFO on all materials.
• Oversee cycle counting of finished goods, raw material, packaging and semi-finished goods.
• Maintain target inventory dollars and achieve finished-goods inventory turn targets.
• Analyze finished-goods levels and adjust with schedulers; own over/under shipments and follow-up actions.
• Manage inventory risk through the aged inventory report, working with Quality to recertify product where applicable.
• Lead continuous improvement teams for inventory accuracy and participate in CI across all departments.
• Maintain and verify SAP master data, including BOMs and recipes.
• Manage handling units and manual corrections; correct deliveries and resolve ASN issues with customers.
• Troubleshoot SAP inventory and customer issues; lead and guide key users so the required knowledge level is maintained in the local team.
• Support global and local processes as the local business owner; identify and prioritize change requests that improve the function.
• Report department metrics monthly; set departmental KPIs and individual goals with team members.
• Post the weekly production compliance chart and customer ratings on communication boards.
• Seek synergy opportunities across the region and with global Sika colleagues.

What You Will Bring!

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Business or a related field; or a 2-year degree with 3-5 years of experience in production scheduling and planning.
• APICS/ASCM (CPIM, CSCP) or similar certification is a plus.
• 5+ years of supply chain / materials management experience in a manufacturing environment; automotive or IATF 16949 experience strongly preferred.
• 3-5 years of hands-on SAP experience (MM/PP); strong Excel and Word skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach and develop a team, drive change and hold high standards.
• Hands-on, floor-present leadership style and an ownership mindset you take responsibility for outcomes, not just tasks.
• Strong analytical skills that turn numbers and schedules into decisions that meet customer demand.
• Thorough understanding of technical process constraints and proven success with cross-functional teams.
• Clear, professional verbal and written communication with internal and external customers, including strong listening skills.
• Solid interpersonal, follow-up and prioritization skills.
• Comfortable in a manufacturing environment approximately 95% indoors / 5% outdoors, with standard PPE required on the production floor.

Perks & Benefits

• 401k with Generous Company Match
• Bonuses
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits
• Paid Parental Leave
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Paid time off, Paid holidays
• Floating holidays + Paid Volunteer Time
• Wellness/Fitness Reimbursements
• Education Assistance
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Employee Referral Program & More!

Sika fosters a culture of entrepreneurship, empowering each individual to make decisions, learn from experiences, and shape their own career path. The safety and well-being of employees are top priorities at Sika, with a strong commitment to open communication and maintaining a safe workplace. In addition, Sika actively contributes to the community and promotes sustainability by giving back, minimizing environmental impact, and embracing social responsibility.

We offer competitive salaries, aligned with local market benchmarks and the specific scope and responsibilities of each role. Compensation is determined based skills relevant to the position, education and/or training. We are committed to fair and equitable pay practices i