Materials Planner (Raw & Pack)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Materials Planner (Raw & Pack), to be based in Seacroft, Leeds, to join our globally recognised FMCG client (with Brands such as Lipton, Ben & Jerry's, Knorr, Persil & Magnum!) This is a full-time temporary role for 12 months, working 37.5 hour per week Monday-Friday. It will be paying circa £28,059 per annum, pro rata.

As part of the Supply process, the purpose of the Raw and Pack Planner role is to cost-effectively ensure 100% availability of materials to the production lines to ensure Customer Service is maintained whilst balancing cost and inventory within the factory. This is under-pinned by the delivery of continuous improvement and pro-active long-term development projects with suppliers and with internal partners.

The Raw and Pack Planner should pro-actively manage the sourcing of materials to achieve KPI targets and ensure continuous material flow to the factory. Monitoring and maintaining stock levels in the warehouse and at suppliers. This will involve face-to-face meetings, making decisions based on cost-service trade-offs, generating reports, graphs, briefings etc.

Inbound Logistics

• Ensures that all materials are available to meet agreed production plans whilst maintaining stocks within agreed company targets.
• Routinely prepares delivery schedule (call-offs), considering all material guidelines, supplier constraints and plan requirements.
• Examines material schedules, reviews orders and call-offs, and brings any issues to the attention of the Demand Planner/Scheduler.
• Build relationships with suppliers.
• Work directly with suppliers regarding call-off changes and overdues and keeps the relevant Demand Planner/Scheduler informed, if necessary.
• Checks provisional plan against short-term schedule, ensuring all shortages of materials are highlighted prior to production planning meetings. Specifies dates of when materials will be available.
• Manages the delivery schedule and negotiate short notice/urgent requirements with Suppliers, Warehouse and Security.
• Proactively negotiates, observes and maintains information flow between suppliers and Sourcing Unit personnel to maintain a responsive supply chain.

Processing

• Ensures that all material data and parameters are maintained within SAP systems
• Identifies and amends the system data in accordance with agreed procedures.
• Support the implementation of New Product Development networks to ensure activities are achievable within the agreed timescale.
• Adherence to the weekly IVMI (Internal Vendor Managed Inventory) process, identify improvement areas.
• Adherence to the Plan Change process, communicate to all parties any constraints. Providing solutions where possible.
• Monitors and communicates supplier stock levels.
• Responsible for Leeds raw material stock reporting.
• Raises provisional obsoletes forms and managing final material obsoletes.
• Communicates with Quality & Warehouse personnel regarding the replacement or reworking of rejected items.
• Support factory based projects, which impact upon supply chain constraints and packaging configuration.
• Responsible for clearing USCC DCIW Purchase order queries (invoicing and stock queries) from own suppliers
• Support material supply for the re-pack operation, internal and at 3rd Party.
• Support the introduction of E4US (order system) with the relevant suppliers and manage the process on implementation.

Supplier Improvement

• Actively involved in supplier development/integration programmes.
• Maintains effective communication with suppliers and understands their operation. This is achieved through liaison with the Category Supply Management Team (CSM), attending CSM meetings on-site and through supplier visits.
• Identifies supplier capacity problems and solutions, agreeing actions with technical and commercial management to achieve the most cost-effective plan.
• Continuously working to reduce Inventory levels in line with supplier risk analysis.
• Raw and Pack Planners will have an awareness of WCM in supplier programme
• Active involvement with continuous improvement with operational supplier management.
• Maintains supplier database i.e. FSAs (Factory Service Agreements) with CSM's
• Where appropriate the Raw and Pack Planner is responsible for implementing alternative/improved replenishment regimes. E.g. Kanban systems, reduced leadtimes etc.
• Maintains a file of key supplier information e.g. holidays, contacts, delivery constraints.
• Monitors KPIs i.e. OTIF data collection, as well as Material Loss reporting and other profile measures.

Other Responsibilities

• Consider all necessary safety and environmental constraints for the movement, handling and transport of materials.
• Contribute to waste reduction through development of good practices.
• Monitor material quality and provide feedback and support.
• Participate in the logistics 5s programme in line with WCM methodology.
• Providing cover for other Raw and Pack Planners and managing a variety of Suppliers. May also include deputising for the Raw and Pack Leader.

Experience Required

• Candidates must have experience in a similar logistics planning role
• Excellent decision-making ability - able to make decisions when problems arise
• Have a strong customer focus - able to build strong relationships with suppliers
• Experience of working to achieve KPI targets
• SAP experience desirable, ideally MRP SAP