Material Planner
Employment type: Full-time, permanent
About the role
We are working in partnership with a leading manufacturing organisation to recruit a highly organised and proactive Logistics Planner / Material Planner. This is a key role within the supply chain team, responsible for planning, coordinating, and controlling materials and logistics to support production schedules and customer demand. You will ensure that the right materials are in the right place at the right time, while maintaining efficiency and managing costs.
Key Responsibilities
Material Planning
Create and maintain material requirement plans (MRP) based on production schedules, forecasts, and customer orders
Review Bills of Materials (BOMs) and inventory levels on a regular basis
Manage raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods to maintain optimal stock levels
Liaise with the logistics/ purchasing teams to ensure timely ordering and delivery of materials
Track supplier performance and resolve any shortages or delivery issues
Monitor lead times and adjust planning parameters where required
Coordinate engineering changes and product phase-ins/phase-outs with minimal disruption
Logistics Planning
Schedule inbound and outbound shipments to meet production and customer timelines
Work closely with logistics providers, freight forwarders, and internal teams to manage transport requirements
Ensure compliance with domestic and international shipping regulations and documentation
Optimise transport costs while maintaining service levels
Track shipment status and take action to resolve delays
Maintain accurate delivery calendars and proactively communicate any changes
Cross-Functional Coordination
Collaborate with production, warehouse, procurement, quality, and sales teams
Provide materials status updates in daily/weekly production meetings
Contribute to capacity planning and production scheduling
Support continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain
Systems & Reporting
Generate and analyse reports on inventory, material usage, delivery performance, and logistics costs
Investigate root causes of planning or delivery issues and support corrective actions
Assist with the implementation or improvement of planning tools and systems
Key Skills & Experience
Strong knowledge of supply chain, logistics, and inventory management principles
Previous experience in a Logistics Planner, Materials Planner, or similar role
Experience using ERP/MRP systems
Excellent organisational and time management skills
Strong analytical and problem-solving ability
Confident communicator able to work cross-functionally
Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing priorities
High attention to detail and accuracy