Material Planner

About the Position

Material Planner

Midrand, South Africa

The Material Planner oversees the end-to-end raw material planning process, ensuring alignment with production requirements and operational efficiency. This role involves conducting daily analysis of the production schedule to optimize material purchases, develop short – and medium - term material requirement plans, and contributing to the creation of long - term strategic planning initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills, proactive problem -solving abilities, and the capability to collaborate with cross -functional teams to maintain optimal inventory levels and streamline procurement processes.

Responsibilities

• Material Shortage Management: Proactively initiate and coordinate action plans to mitigate material shortages, ensuring continuity in production.
• Inventory Control & Optimisation: Monitor inventory levels, minimizing excess stock while proactively managing Slow-moving and Obsolete (SLOB) items.
• Supplier Coordination: Provide material schedules to suppliers at required frequencies to maintain alignment with business needs.
• Procurement Expediting: Expedite materials in accordance with SAP recommendations to support timely fulfillment of business requirements.
• SAP Data Integrity: Ensure the maintenance of SAP parameters as regulated by management, keeping system data accurate and up to date.
• Continuous Improvement & Cost Optimisation: Propose and evaluate process enhancements to improve material flow and drive cost reduction.
• Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Identify short-to medium -term supply chain risks, implementing preventive strategies to minimize impact.
• Working Capital Management: Oversee inventory levels to maintain working capital targets, ensuring efficient resource allocation.
• Compliance & Reporting: Complete shortage and surplus reports within communicated deadlines, providing accurate data for decision-making.
• Safety Stock Maintenance: Establish and maintain appropriate safety stock levels to safeguard against demand fluctuations.

Requirements

• Solid experience in a supply chain role working with customers, suppliers, and other internal stakeholders.
• Practical experience of material planning in FMCG company (preferably in food industry).
• Experience in managing run in - run out (face in - face out) of materials.
• Degree in Industrial/Supply Chain/Business/Accounting.
• Proven leadership skills and ability to influence stakeholders on all levels in the organization.
• Excellent presentation skills and ability to proactively contribute to customer presentations.
• Proven experience in managing and executing CI projects within a dynamic environment.
• Cross-functional team player and able to operate effectively within a matrix structure.
• Flexible approach & innovative problem solver.
• Exposure to ERP/SC systems (SAP) and Advanced level Microsoft Office (Excel).
• Potential and desire to build career within Supply Chain.
• Flexibility in complex, ambiguous and fast-paced environment with changing priorities.

Why Work at McCormick?

As a McCormick employee, you’ll be empowered to focus on more than your individual responsibilities. You’ll have the opportunity to be part of something bigger than yourself-to have a say in where the company is going and how it’s growing.

Between our passion for flavor, our 130-year history of leadership and integrity, the competitive and comprehensive benefits we offer, and our culture, which is built on respect and opportunities for growth, there are many reasons to join us at McCormick.

Agencies: McCormick as needed will work with external recruitment vendors through our Agency Portal. Unless previously contacted, McCormick does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiting agencies.

McCormick & Company is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, colour, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies.