Senior Planner, Materials Management

Real; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Specialist Staffing Group is seeking a Senior Planner, Materials Management to join a leading biotechnology organization. The role focuses on material availability and manufacturing support across internal and external sites, operating on a hybrid schedule with at least two onsite days weekly, Thursdays mandatory.

The Senior Planner collaborates with Global Supply Planning, Manufacturing, Quality, Development, Regulatory, Clinical, and Commercial teams to translate demand into material

Qualifications

• 4-7 years of experience in supply chain planning or materials management in biotech/pharma or regulated manufacturing.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management required; advanced degree or MBA preferred.
• Strong understanding of materials planning, inventory control, procurement coordination, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing, GMP principles, and new product introduction.
• Experience with ERP systems, ideally SAP, plus strong Excel and data analysis skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration across functions in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Create purchase requisitions and orders; expedite critical materials.
• Maintain Bills of Materials for commercial and development products.
• Manage material planning and procurement activities.
• Monitor SAP transactions and balance service levels with risk and excess exposure.
• Optimize inventory parameters to ensure reliable supply.
• Support scenario planning and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Own a portfolio of specialty raw materials, including volatile/high-value items; support new product launches.
• Communicate material status updates to stakeholders.

Skills

Supply Chain Management

Materials Planning

Buyer

Planner functions

Manufacturing environments

Forecasting

Production scheduling

Reporting

SAP

Power BI

Excel Macros

Microsoft VBA

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management

Master's degree or MBA preferred

Tools

SAP

Power BI

Excel Macros

Microsoft VBA

Job description

A leading organisation in the biotechnology sector is seeking a Senior Planner, Materials Management to join their highly collaborative team. This role is integral to ensuring material availability and supporting manufacturing operations across both internal and external sites. The position operates on a hybrid schedule, with at least two days onsite per week-Thursdays being mandatory-with flexibility for additional onsite presence.

The Senior Planner will partner closely with Global Supply Planning, Manufacturing, Quality, Development, Regulatory, Clinical, and Commercial teams to translate demand assumptions into actionable material strategies. Responsibilities include managing material planning and procurement activities, maintaining Bills of Materials for commercial and development products, and optimizing inventory parameters to support reliable supply. The role also involves monitoring SAP transactions, managing raw material inventories, and balancing service levels, risk, and excess exposure.

Key duties include creating purchase requisitions and orders, expediting critical materials, resolving supply and invoice issues, and supporting scenario planning and continuous improvement initiatives. The Senior Planner will own a portfolio of specialty raw materials, including volatile and high-value items, and will support new product launches and communicate material status updates to stakeholders.

Candidates should have 4-7 years of experience in supply chain planning or materials management within biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, or a regulated manufacturing environment. A bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management is required; an advanced degree or relevant certifications such as Lean Six Sigma or APICS are preferred. Proficiency with SAP, Power BI, and advanced Excel (including macros and VBA) is essential. Strong analytical, forecasting, and communication skills, along with a collaborative mindset and adaptability, are critical for success in this role. Candidates with warehouse-only backgrounds or limited onsite flexibility will not be considered.

Must-Have Skills: Supply Chain Management, Materials Planning, Buyer, Planner functions, Manufacturing environments, Forecasting, Production scheduling, Reporting

Nice-to-Have Skills: Data-driven decision making, Verbal communication, Written communication, Collaboration, Lean Six Sigma Green, Lean Six Sigma Black, APICS, Analytical thinking, Team-player mentality, Managing purchase orders, Inventory control, Procurement coordination, Continuous improvement methodologies, GMP principles, New product introduction, SAP, Power BI, Excel Macros, Microsoft VBA

Qualifications

• 4-7 years of experience in supply chain planning, materials management, or a related role in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, or another regulated manufacturing environment; or a master's degree with 2-4 years of relevant experience.
• Strong understanding of materials planning, inventory control, procurement coordination, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage risk, resolve material issues, and improve planning accuracy.
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing, GMP principles, and new product introduction.
• Experience working with ERP systems, ideally SAP, along with strong Excel and data analysis skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across functions in a fast-paced environment.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or MBA preferred.
• A thoughtful, detail-oriented, and adaptable approach to both routine and non-routine responsibilities.

EOE Statement: Specialist Staffing Group is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.