Supply-Chain Planning Analyst (Planner/Buyer), Materials Management

AstraZeneca; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 69,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Short-term incentives

Equity-based awards

Health, dental, and vision coverage

Paid time off

Job summary

AstraZeneca plc is seeking a Supply Chain Planning Analyst (Planner/Buyer) for the Gaithersburg facility. You will ensure raw materials are available on schedule, using SAP and analytics to drive decisions and coordinate with manufacturing, quality, procurement, and supplier networks.

Responsibilities include managing supplier performance, optimizing inventory, and maintaining planning accuracy for clinical development material, with a focus on supply continuity and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field (Supply Chain, Materials Management, Operations, Industrial Engineering, Biology, Biotechnology or similar).
• Minimum 3–5 years of direct Supply-Chain Planning experience; or 3+ years for Clinical trial materials/biotech/pharma.
• Strong knowledge of supply-chain management techniques and MRP.
• Ability to work independently with limited direction.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with data analysis and cross-functional teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Manage supplier performance to achieve high on-time, in-full delivery.
• Coordinate timely resolution of raw-material quality issues.
• Optimize inventory parameters to balance costs and continuity.
• Proactively manage goods receipt and invoice exceptions.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners on supply planning.

Skills

Data-driven decision making

Analytical thinking

Project management

Independent work

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain/Materials Management/Operations/Industrial Engineering or related field

Tools

SAP

Excel

Power BI

Smartsheet

Job description

Supply Chain Planning Analyst (Planner/Buyer), Materials Management

Introduction to role

Are you ready to use data-driven planning to keep clinical manufacturing on schedule and help deliver investigational medicines to patients who need them? In this role, you will connect science with supply by ensuring raw materials are where they need to be, exactly when they are needed, to support clinical studies.

You will join a team that blends scientific rigor with operational excellence, using SAP and advanced analytics to make confident decisions. You will partner across manufacturing, quality, procurement, and global supplier networks to secure supply continuity while optimizing inventory. Can you balance agility with discipline to protect every batch and milestone?

Accountabilities

• Supplier Performance Management: Manage supplier performance to achieve at least 98% on-time, in-full delivery of raw materials against confirmed requirements.
• Quality Issue Resolution: Coordinate timely investigation, escalation, and closure of raw material quality issues to protect the clinical manufacturing schedule.
• Inventory Optimization: Optimize inventory parameters and purchasing decisions to support the department's inventory carrying cost objective while maintaining supply continuity.
• Procure-to-Pay Integrity: Proactively manage goods receipt and invoice exceptions to prevent late or outstanding supplier invoices.
• Collaborative Ways of Working: Model collaborative, inclusive, and accountable ways of working across internal teams and external partners.
• Material Requirements Planning in SAP: Execute material requirements planning in SAP PP and MM for the Gaithersburg clinical development facility.
• Master Data and Exceptions Management: Review raw-material exceptions and maintain SAP material-master planning parameters based on demand, usage, lead-time, and supply changes.
• BOM and Recipe Accuracy: Load and validate bills of materials and apply working knowledge of manufacturing recipes to ensure planning accuracy.
• GxP Documentation and Change Control: Author material specifications, SOPs, change controls, change actions, impact assessments, deviations, and risk assessments in AstraZeneca's Enterprise Content Management System.
• Analytics and Risk Management: Analyze historical usage and forecast data to identify supply risks, support planning decisions, and improve inventory performance.
• Supplier Change Coordination: Evaluate supplier-initiated changes and coordinate required cross-functional assessments and actions.
• Global KPI Monitoring: Collaborate with global teams to monitor supplier key performance indicators and drive follow-up actions as required.

Essential Skills/Experience

• -Bachelor’s Degree, (preferably in Supply Chain Management, Materials Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Biology, Biotechnology, or another Scientific discipline).
• At least five years of direct Supply-Chain Planning experience or 3 years of experience in Supply Chain planning specifically for Clinical trial materials, Biotechnology, or Pharmaceuticals
• Extensive knowledge of supply-chain management techniques and material requirements planning.
• Ability to work independently with limited direction.
• Ability to identify and communicate complex problems, risks, and solutions clearly.
• Ability to develop collaborative relationships and build effective teams.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Comfort working with ambiguity and changing priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and Smartsheet
• Strong SAP knowledge including Production Planning Master Data, Bill of Materials, recipe building, general demand planning and scenario planning
• Data-driven critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Project management

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) experience.
• APICS certification.
• Audit experience
• Supervisory experience
• Experience with Lean Six Sigma or other operational excellence methodologies.
• Master of Business Administration preferred.
• Manufacturing experience

Why AstraZeneca

Here, your craft in purification and automation powers a pipeline built on scientific courage and real-world impact. You'll work alongside chemists, analysts, structural scientists, and automation specialists— a team that values kindness alongside ambition. We blend cutting-edge technology with deep scientific rigor, from AI-enabled workflows to novel analytical approaches, so you can learn fast, iterate faster, and see your contributions move programs forward.

This is a team that enjoys being productive together. We celebrate science highlights, share what we learn, and support each other through the inevitable challenges of building something new. If you thrive in a high-throughput environment, love separations science, and want to be part of a team that's genuinely building the future of automated purification —

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $68,904.80 to $103,357.20.

Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.

Date Posted

27-oct-2026

Closing Date

02-nov-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.