Material Planner

Job Description

Job Description

The Material Planner will provide buying and planning support to Bonnie’s site leadership team members. As a key part of the supply chain, you will be accountable for coordinating the material requirements planning in support of production schedules for existing and new products, and design changes. 

The Material Planner minimizes material inventories while reducing purchasing costs and maximizing customer service. Manages excess and obsolete inventory costs while meeting business objectives. Collaborates heavily with internal and external customer community, including vendors, operations, scheduling, service, QA/QC.

• Analyze forecast, actual demand, schedules and inventory and exercise judgment to influence growing and buying decisions.
• Determine material requirements from the growing production schedules.
• Review and analyze weekly raw material, components and finished goods requirements to meet specific schedules.
• Review, prioritize, schedule, and expedite the delivery of material components to meet target dates and prevent stock shortages.
• Generate and release purchase requisitions for procurement through approved/qualified suppliers for both direct and indirect materials and components.
• Raise order fulfillment issues to management and key customers to propose mitigation strategies on a routine (daily/weekly) basis.
• Manage inventory by determining and maintaining optimum quality and cost levels.
• Produce material planning inventory reports and presentations as required.
• Provide management control information by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing data and trends.
• Develop reports that measure performance and drive change throughout the supply chain.
• Work with other business units on inventory and logistics planning of rollouts, inventory forecasting, yearly cost reduction initiatives, and continuous improvement of quality systems.
• Resolve unclear packing slips, invoices, and memorandums to ensure prompt availability of material and timely payments to vendors.
• Help support and investigate any key issues in weekly cycle count submissions

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while still maintaining quality.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate in an efficient/effective manner. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other personnel and management and ability to work seamlessly with Operations and Sales functions.
• Enterprise thinker – ability to understand how their work fits into/enhances the broader enterprise objectives.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion in applying and interpreting rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.   
• Strong understanding of purchasing systems and tools.
• Good technical knowledge and experience in respective direct material commodities in live goods or horticulture, is preferred.
• Proficient in utilizing ERP systems, Microsoft NAV is preferred.
• Ability to travel up to 10%.
• Creative problem-solving mindset with and attention to detail and financial responsibility.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office suite.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in supply chain management, logistics, business management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in Procurement, Sourcing, Supply Chain, Logistics or Operations related role