Manager Material Planning

The role involves leading the planning, coordination, and control of materials necessary to support production and operational needs. The successful candidate will ensure the timely availability of raw materials and packaging components while maintaining optimal inventory levels and minimizing supply chain risks. This position requires developing and executing materials planning strategies, converting demand forecasts into material requirements plans, and working closely with procurement, production, quality, and logistics teams to maintain seamless operations. Additionally, the role focuses on driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance forecast accuracy, reduce lead times, optimize inventory performance, and support overall organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities

- Develop and manage material planning strategies to guarantee the timely availability of raw materials and packaging components.
- Translate demand forecasts into material requirements plans using SAP MRP to support production schedules.
- Maintain optimal inventory levels by balancing service levels, lead times, and carrying costs.
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of material planners and analysts, setting objectives and conducting performance reviews.
- Foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement by promoting best practices.
- Monitor inventory performance metrics such as inventory turns, excess stock, shortages, and obsolescence, and implement corrective actions as needed.
- Establish and maintain safety stock levels, reorder points, and lot-sizing parameters.
- Coordinate with procurement and suppliers to ensure timely delivery of materials, managing supplier constraints, capacity limitations, and lead-time variability.
- Collaborate closely with production, procurement, logistics, and sales teams to align material plans with business objectives.
- Ensure the accuracy and integrity of master data in SAP, including Bills of Materials (BOMs), lead times, minimum order quantities (MOQs), and safety stock parameters.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
- 6 to 10 years of progressive experience in material planning, supply planning, or production planning within the pharmaceutical industry.
- Strong proficiency in SAP and a deep understanding of material planning processes.
- Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
- Excellent communication and negotiation abilities.
- Hands-on experience supporting drug substance (API) and/or drug product operations, including formulation, fill-finish, and packaging.
- Solid understanding of batch record-driven planning, material traceability, and expiry management.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits

No specific preferred qualifications or benefits were mentioned in the original description.

This position offers an excellent opportunity for a seasoned professional to contribute to a dynamic pharmaceutical environment by ensuring efficient material flow and supporting continuous operational improvements.