Strategic Material Planner — Drive Efficient Production & Growth

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Halstead (KS); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Tuition Assistance

Employee Discounts

Competitive Bonus Programs

401k Match

Employee Assistance Program

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Continental ContiTech USA, Inc. is seeking a detail-oriented Material Planner to join our Halstead operations. You will manage material flow, coordinate with production schedulers, and optimize inventory to ensure smooth manufacturing workflows.

The role requires daily MRPs, data analysis, and collaboration with Purchasing, Production Scheduling, and Warehouse teams to maintain material availability and minimize shortages.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• 2–3 years of experience in material planning, production planning, inventory management, procurement, or supply chain operations preferred.
• Proficiency with ERP systems (such as SAP, Oracle, or similar platforms) and MRP software.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex data sets.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data analysis and reporting.
• Solid understanding of production processes, lead times, and inventory management principles.
• Experience with demand forecasting and inventory optimization techniques.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to coordinate effectively across departments.
• Attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in planning and data management.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States is required.

Responsibilities

• Review raw material requirements daily through the MRP system and identify upcoming material needs.
• Develop and maintain accurate material plans based on demand, inventory levels, lead times, and production requirements.
• Support material forecasting and budget preparation by analyzing historical usage, current demand, inventory requirements, and anticipated material needs.
• Monitor material availability and proactively identify potential shortages, delays, or supply constraints.
• Communicate with vendors and internal teams to confirm material availability and delivery dates.
• Partner with the Purchasing team to process purchase requests for production materials and support the Halstead team with non-production material requests.
• Coordinate closely with Production Scheduling to ensure material requirements are understood and changes in demand or supply are communicated.
• Analyze inventory levels, historical usage, and demand trends to support appropriate material requirements and minimize excess inventory.
• Utilize ERP/MRP systems to monitor material requirements, track inventory, maintain accurate records, and generate planning reports.
• Support cycle counts, annual physical inventory, and ongoing inventory accuracy initiatives.
• Investigate and help resolve material shortages, discrepancies, and supply issues that could impact production.
• Prepare and maintain reports related to inventory levels, material requirements, supplier performance, and planning accuracy.
• Identify opportunities to improve material planning processes, inventory management, and overall supply chain efficiency.
• Collaborate with Production, Purchasing, Warehouse, Quality, and other internal teams to support the timely and efficient flow of materials.

Skills

ERP systems

Excel

Analytical skills

Inventory management

Demand forecasting

Communication

Education

High school diploma

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Job description

Continental ContiTech USA, Inc. is seeking a detail-oriented Material Planner to join our Halstead operations. You will manage material flow, coordinate with production schedulers, and optimize inventory to ensure smooth manufacturing workflows.

The role requires daily MRPs, data analysis, and collaboration with Purchasing, Production Scheduling, and Warehouse teams to maintain material availability and minimize shortages.