The Materials Planner assists in identifying and planning the needed supplies and materials to optimize productivity and meet/exceed customer expectations. The Materials Planner is the main point of contact for vendors, making them responsible for negotiating the terms of supply contracts, researching new material sources and ensuring delivery schedules. The Materials Planner is instrumental in setting appropriate price points for product sales and making adjustments to account for changes in the cost of attaining, storing and transporting materials.

Key Responsibilities & Activities
Collaborates with other managers to determine supply needs.
Ensures the purchase of supplies and materials are completed within specifications.
Oversees the distribution of supplies in the organization.
Control inventory levels and ensures availability of material during emergencies using safety stock calculations.
Maintains supplier relationships and negotiates pricing and services to ensure quality product is received 100% on time in full.
Manage the supplier relationship so they are aware of their performance and decisions for business are based on performance.
Maintain electronic records on procurement activity, materials quantity, specifications, etc.
Assist in forecasting to plan future purchase orders based on demand.
Import/export compliance, advise on HTS codes as needed and work with brokers on issues.
Forecasting and planning by setting lead days, work with customer care on expedites and communicate potential misses.
Facilitate quarterly floor stock inventories and cycle counting to ensure accurate inventory in MRP.
Review freight invoicing for New Albany/US Dispensing and manage exceptions.
Ensure team members (purchasing, shipping, receiving, warehouse and material handlers) are successfully trained to ensure service and product quality meets or exceeds customer expectations according to policies and procedures and/or as communicated in the work instructions.
Manage inventory spreadsheets and online forecasts.
Ensures that there is daily, weekly and monthly performance reporting against key metrics.