Strategic Materials Planner

Sweeping Corporation of America; Warwick (RI); On-site; USD 36,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Herff Jones, Inc. in Warwick, RI is seeking a Planner to ensure timely availability of raw materials, components, packaging, and finished goods to support production and customer demand.

The role focuses on material planning, inventory alignment, and cross-functional coordination to drive accurate make/buy decisions and maintain service levels. You will partner with Production Planning, Operations, Purchasing, Inventory, and Customer Service to position materials correctly, identify constraints

Qualifications

• 2–3 years of experience in demand planning or sales analysis.
• Experience with ERP systems, understanding of Bill of Materials.
• Experience with inventory planning, demand and supply planning.
• Experience in Manufacturing and/or Procurement a plus.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to establish priorities and work independently.
• Microsoft Office, strong Excel and reporting skills.

Responsibilities

• Plan, forecast, and maintain material requirements for raw materials, components, packaging, and purchased finished goods based on demand signals, production plans, and inventory targets.
• Collaborate with Production Planning and Operations to ensure material plans align with manufacturing schedules and business priorities.
• Partner with Purchasing to communicate material & finished goods needs, confirm supplier commitments, and support make/buy decisions with accurate data.
• Collaborate with Inventory Manager to establish safety stock levels for materials based on historical usage, sales forecasts, and current demand.
• Identify risks related to material availability and escalation issues proactively.
• Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, develop statistical models, and evaluate results
• Develop category, sub-category, and SKU level unit demand plans for key stakeholders that inform decision making and supply planning
• Review Planned Order Report outputs, purchase requirements, and BOM structures to ensure accuracy and resolve discrepancies.
• Maintain and update planning tools, reports, and spreadsheets to ensure data accuracy and visibility.
• Serve as a key participant in daily/weekly planning meetings, providing material status updates and identifying constraints.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to planning accuracy, inventory optimization, and make/buy analysis
• Manage projects as assigned

Skills

Demand planning

Sales analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Prioritization

Independent work

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

ERP systems

Bill of Materials

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Herff Jones, Inc. in Warwick, RI is seeking a Planner to ensure timely availability of raw materials, components, packaging, and finished goods to support production and customer demand.

The role focuses on material planning, inventory alignment, and cross-functional coordination to drive accurate make/buy decisions and maintain service levels. You will partner with Production Planning, Operations, Purchasing, Inventory, and Customer Service to position materials correctly, identify constraints