Material Planner

Location: Manteno, IL

Company: Gotion Illinois

Department: Warehouse & Logistics

Reports To: Warehouse & Logistics Manager

Direct Reports: 1015 Team Members

POSITION SUMMARY

Gotion Illinois is seeking an experienced Material Planner to oversee warehouse operations, logistics coordination, Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) activities, and transportation scheduling in support of a rapidly growing lithium-ion battery manufacturing operation.

This role is responsible for leading a team of 1015 employees while ensuring the safe, efficient, and accurate movement of materials throughout the facility. The successful candidate will oversee dock scheduling, inbound and outbound transportation, inventory movement, warehouse operations, and FTZ compliance while partnering closely with Production, Supply Chain, Planning, and Customs/Trade Compliance teams.

Candidates should possess strong warehouse leadership experience within battery manufacturing, energy storage, EV, automotive, solar, or other high-volume manufacturing environments.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plan and manage material requirements to support daily production schedules and manufacturing demand.
• Create, release, and maintain purchase orders, delivery schedules, and supplier forecasts within the ERP/MRP system.
• Monitor inventory levels and proactively identify potential material shortages while developing recovery plans.
• Coordinate inbound material deliveries with suppliers, carriers, warehouse personnel, and receiving teams.
• Manage dock scheduling, delivery appointments, trailer coordination, and inbound transportation schedules to support efficient material flow.
• Support Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) operations, ensuring inventory movements, documentation, and transactions comply with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations and company procedures.
• Maintain accurate inventory records while supporting cycle counts, inventory reconciliation, and material traceability.
• Collaborate with Purchasing, Production, Warehouse, Logistics, Quality, and Manufacturing teams to ensure materials are available to support production requirements.
• Analyze inventory trends, supplier performance, and production demand to optimize inventory levels and minimize excess inventory.
• Monitor KPIs related to inventory accuracy, supplier on-time delivery, dock utilization, schedule adherence, material availability, and production shortages.
• Support Engineering Change Notices (ECNs), new product launches, and production ramp-up activities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to material planning, inventory management, supplier performance, and supply chain efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, safety standards, SOPs, FTZ requirements, and applicable regulatory requirements.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 2+ years of leadership experience within warehouse, logistics, supply chain, transportation, or material operations.
• Experience leading teams of 10 or more employees.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics.
• Experience creating purchase orders, supplier schedules, production schedules, and inventory plans.
• Knowledge of Material Requirements Planning (MRP), inventory control, demand planning, and supply planning.
• Experience coordinating supplier deliveries, dock schedules, transportation, and inbound logistics.
• Experience working within a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) environment or supporting FTZ inventory controls and compliance.
• Working knowledge of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations, customs documentation, inventory traceability, and international shipping processes.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• SAP MM, SAP PP, SAP EWM, or equivalent ERP experience.
• Experience supporting battery gigafactories or startup manufacturing facilities.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Experience with dock scheduling platforms or transportation management systems (TMS).
• Experience with bonded warehouses, global trade compliance, or international logistics.
• APICS/ASCM CPIM or CSCP certification is a plus.
• Bilingual English/Mandarin or English/Spanish communication skills are a plus.
• EV Battery Manufacturing
• Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturing
• Battery Materials Manufacturing
• Battery Cell Manufacturing
• Battery Pack Assembly
• Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
• Solar Manufacturing

COMPENSATION

Competitive salary, bonus eligibility, and comprehensive benefits package.