Materials Planner

Position Summary The Material Planner manages raw materials, packaging, and miscellaneous items inventory levels, ensuring compliance with stock policies while adjusting inventory to optimal levels as needed. The role plans and executes ERP system signals into purchase orders to meet short‑ and long‑term production plans, manages inventory at risk, and maintains supplier relationships. Responsibilities Enforce raw materials inventory policies in Flavor Manufacturing, adjusting or optimalizing inventory while considering warehouse capacity and shelf‑life. Enforce raw materials and packaging inventory policies while adjusting inventory to optimal levels. Enforce production miscellaneous items (e.g., filters, filter aid) inventory policies while adjusting inventory to optimal levels. Procure ingredients, packaging, and other items based on various demand signals. Maintain SAP item planning data, utilize SAP signals for purchasing, update RE forecasts into the ERP system, and run MRP. Communicate timing requirements of allocated ingredient lots for proper staging or on‑site storage. Generate freight purchase orders for incoming material to understand arrival dates and expedite needs. Continuously update information regarding cleaning usage to determine current trends and future requirements. Schedule incoming ingredient bulk tanker receipts. Maintain updated UN‑certified package testing certificates, regulatory documents, and closing instructions from packaging suppliers. Responsible for the Material Review Board (MRB), identifying and presenting inventory at risk to key stakeholders to trigger actions that minimize inventory losses. Support the Non‑Conforming Material Review (NCMR) process by participating in rework or disposition solutions with other functions. Work in partnership with Strategic Ingredient Supply to ensure continuous supply of suitable quality raw ingredients. Provide supply forecasts to Strategic Ingredient Supply to help create contracts and ensure material availability throughout the year. Develop and manage relationships with vendors or suppliers to ensure proper capabilities, conformance with company standards, and receipt of appropriate products and services. Negotiate purchases of approved packaging materials, source and process new suppliers for approval as required. Collaborate with suppliers to seek continuous improvements in ingredient quality and supplier performance; manage vendor returns and resolve quality issues directly with vendors in a corrective action format. Provide forecasts to suppliers on high‑value or high‑turnover ingredients to ensure continuous supply. Follow up on action plans from the annual Supplier Risk Assessment to reduce top risks. Track and report supplier performance, analyze on‑time‑in‑full adverse trends, and report them timely. Review, interpret, and verify MRP requirements in a timely manner to ensure availability of purchased components and finished products for customer orders. Request and gather all regulatory paperwork for potential new suppliers and/or new ingredients. Review ingredient specifications for suitability and fit for use. Confirm lots received are acceptable through 167/229 Analysis. Ensure close analysis of orange oils levels. Connect with Flavor Manufacturing‑Wexford periodically to align on overall inventory levels. Collaborate with various departments to implement continuous improvement projects. Ensure department training requirements are met. Support FMAp’s DD&C for new ingredients and commercialization planning. Support the Integrated Management System by becoming an internal auditor (KORE or ISO requirements, 5S program). Ensure all processes under this role’s responsibilities are properly documented. Actively participate in the daily communication center and provide input or share information when necessary. Manage, investigate, and resolve assigned continuous improvement and nonconforming materials reports. Qualifications & Requirements University degree in Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or a related technical field. Master’s in business administration degree is considered a plus. APICS certification is considered a plus. Experience & Critical Knowledge Minimum of five (5+) years of experience in a manufacturing facility in a similar supply‑chain role. Experience with SAP or similar ERP systems. Proficiency in Excel. High attention to detail and ability to understand complex manufacturing processes and their relation to procurement. Knowledge of supplier fulfillment capabilities to meet customer and internal requirements, and ability to build system capability and capacity for timely, efficient service. Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, decision‑making, and strategic thinking skills, with ability to navigate and prioritize multiple conflicting demands. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including influencing, listening, teamwork, and building value‑based relationships. Ability to make decisions based on analytical results. Key skills include long‑ and short‑term planning, organizing, leading change, influencing, and communicating widely. Food processing or pharmaceutical planning experience. Considered a plus: Quality systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001) experience and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Demonstrated interaction with senior managers (Finance, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Legal, etc.). Judgement / Decision Making This position requires making and helping managers make key business decisions that could have a major impact on organizational performance, both in the short and the long term. Cultural Diversity Required to work and leverage a multicultural setting (including multi‑generational, multi‑ethnic, different educational backgrounds, etc.). Working Conditions Normal manufacturing plant/office working conditions apply. This position is subject to the hazards and risks of a food manufacturing plant and its working environment. Organizational Impact / Influence Accountability for ongoing activities; may lead processes or project steps within broader projects. As an individual contributor, acts as an established and productive professional working independently with limited supervision. Communication Internal interactions : Plant’s general manager and its leadership team (Production, Logistics, Technical, Engineering & Maintenance, Finance, IT); Operations supervisors and plant associates; Process chemists. External interactions : Corporate’s Business Partner, FM Wexford Business Partner, FM Atlanta Business Partner. Analysis / Problem Solving Typical situations include inventory management and rapid resolution of issues, translating business strategies into operational objectives, identifying inventory level gaps, handling conflicting interests, proposing courses of action, recommending system and process enhancements, and working closely with logistics, SIS, and suppliers to reduce lead times. Payment & Location Pay Range: United States of America: 94,000 USD – 110,000 USD. Location: United States of America – Apopka. Travel Required: 0% – 25% Relocation Provided: No. EEO Statement We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. When we collect your personal information as part of a job application or offer of employment, we do so in accordance with industry standards and best practices and in compliance with applicable privacy laws. #J-18808-Ljbffr