Materials Planner / Materials Planneress

Job Opportunity: Materials Planner

W Talent is excited to partner with a leading FMCG manufacturer located in Redditch to recruit a Materials Planner for their supply chain team. This position is a remarkable opportunity for an organized and proactive planning professional to thrive in a dynamic manufacturing setting. Here, you will play a vital role in ensuring that materials are readily available to meet production demands, while also maintaining optimal stock levels and enhancing operational efficiency.

The Role

As a Materials Planner, your primary responsibility will be to ensure the seamless supply of materials and components necessary to support production schedules. You will collaborate closely with suppliers and internal stakeholders to uphold stock accuracy, mitigate supply risks, and ensure operational continuity.

This role demands a highly organized individual with strong analytical capabilities, keen attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced FMCG environment. Additionally, you will contribute to continuous improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing efficiency across supply chain and planning processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Schedule the supply of materials and components to fulfill production demands while maintaining minimum safety stock levels.
• Assess volume requirements against planning assumptions to ensure accurate supply forecasting.
• Manage day-to-day order processing, including purchase orders and supplier delivery scheduling.
• Monitor material availability and proactively address supply risks to minimize production disruption.
• Escalate and resolve material shortages that could affect production schedules.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives by identifying and implementing process enhancements.
• Schedule the supply of bought-in goods, including managing import documentation as needed.
• Utilize systems like Sage, WMS, and supplier portals to maintain accurate and timely planning data.
• Oversee stock transfers from external warehouses and manage related purchase order activities.
• Support inventory checks and stock validation to ensure high levels of stock accuracy.
• Minimize obsolete stock and mitigate business liability through effective stock control.
• Produce regular reports, analyses, and planning updates to aid broader business decisions.
• Provide coverage for broader planning duties during periods of absence and assist with ad hoc departmental administration.
• Build and maintain robust supplier relationships to ensure timely and complete deliveries.
• Develop effective relationships across internal departments to facilitate smooth operational communication.

Key Requirements

• Previous experience in materials planning, supply chain, production planning, or procurement.
• Experience in a fast-paced manufacturing or FMCG environment is highly desirable.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to foster effective internal and external relationships.
• Excellent negotiation, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• Commercial awareness, with an understanding of how supply chain performance impacts cost, production, and customer delivery.
• Highly organized with strong time management skills and the capability to prioritize effectively.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, coupled with exceptional attention to detail.
• Self-motivated, resilient, and adaptable to changing business demands.
• A collaborative team player with a proactive and positive approach.
• Competence in using planning and ERP systems such as Sage, WMS, or supplier management portals.

Salary and Benefits Package

• Salary ranging from £30,000 - £35,000 DOE
• Company pension scheme
• Annual leave entitlement
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression
• Supportive and collaborative working environment
• Opportunity to join a well-established and growing FMCG manufacturer

Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.