Sr Manager, Planning & Materials

THE COMPANY

Our client is a global leader in medical device manufacturing with rapid and consistent growth. They manufacture critical care products and are looking for a Sr Manager, Planning & Materials to join their team. The company has been in business for over 60 years. Their culture is strongly focused on productivity and quality, while prioritizing teamwork and its people.

THE POSITION

The Senior Manager, Planning & Materials is responsible for leading the site’s end-to-end supply chain strategy and execution, including demand and supply planning, purchasing, inventory management, logistics, distribution, traffic, customs and supplier performance. This role ensures material availability, capacity alignment, customer service performance, inventory control, cost optimization and compliance with business, quality and regulatory requirements. The position partners closely with Operations, Manufacturing, Finance, Engineering, Quality, corporate Supply Chain teams and external partners to deliver supply chain performance, resilience and continuous improvement. The role also provides governance for planning master data, system parameters and related processes in o9, SAP and other supply chain systems, ensuring accuracy, ownership and alignment with corporate procedures.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the supply chain strategy in alignment with business goals, site priorities and growth objectives.
• Lead end-to-end demand fulfilment activities, including demand planning, supply planning, materials management, purchasing, logistics, distribution, customs and supplier performance.
• Lead the S&OP / IBP process to align customer demand, production capacity, supply plans, inventory targets and financial objectives.
• Ensure availability of materials and capacity to support production schedules, customer service targets and business commitments.
• Develop inventory strategies that balance service, working capital, inventory accuracy, obsolescence risk and operational efficiency.
• Monitor and improve key supply chain metrics, including service level, inventory turns, days on hand, excess and obsolete inventory, supplier performance, logistics cost and schedule adherence.
• Build a resilient supply chain by identifying risks, addressing supply constraints, managing demand volatility and leading escalation processes during disruptions.
• Lead purchasing and supplier management strategies to optimize cost, quality, delivery performance and supply continuity.
• Direct transportation, warehousing, distribution and material flow activities to ensure efficient movement of raw materials, components and finished goods across the supply network.
• Manage supply chain budgets, cost-reduction initiatives and financial planning inputs related to inventory, logistics and operational performance.
• Provide executive-level reporting, analysis and recommendations on supply chain performance, risks, priorities and improvement plans.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Finance, Quality and corporate functions to support business objectives and resolve cross-functional issues.
• Lead digital supply chain transformation and adoption of planning technologies, including o9, SAP and related analytics tools.
• Ensure governance, ownership and accuracy of MRP, CRP, planning parameters, capacity data, calendars, production times, scrap assumptions and other master data in accordance with corporate procedures.
• Lead continuous improvement, Lean, Six Sigma, process standardization and organizational change initiatives across the supply chain function.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, quality system requirements, CAPA processes, documented procedures, inventory controls, customs requirements and safety standards.
• Participate in management reviews, manufacturing planning forums and other governance processes as required.
• Lead, develop and train supply chain team members, ensuring clear accountability, effective performance management and appropriate succession planning.
• Coordinate physical inventory activities and ensure materials are handled, stored and controlled to support inventory accuracy and compliance.
• Oversee the customs function through local specialists and participate in decisions affecting import/export compliance and material flow.

THE CANDIDATE

EDUCATION – Minimum education required to perform the role.

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering or a related field required.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• APICS, ASCM, ISM or equivalent supply chain certification preferred.
• Bilingual English Spanish capability preferred or required, depending on site needs.

EXPERIENCE – Minimum experience required to perform the role.

• 10+ years of progressive experience in supply chain, demand planning, supply planning (production planning and master scheduling), materials management, procurement, logistics or operations.
• Demonstrated experience leading regional or site-level supply chain organizations, including people leadership, performance management and cross-functional stakeholder management.
• Proven record of accomplishment in improving service, inventory, cost, supplier performance and supply chain process effectiveness.
• Experience in a regulated manufacturing environment, preferably medical device, pharmaceutical or life sciences, is preferred.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS 

1. Strong knowledge and experience of S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning), IBP (Integrated Business Planning), demand planning, and supply planning (production planning and master scheduling).
2. Working knowledge of inventory management, procurement, logistics and supplier performance processes.
3. Experience with ERP and advanced planning systems, including SAP, o9 or equivalent platforms.
4. Strong analytical capability, with proficiency in Excel, Power BI, supply chain analytics and executive reporting tools.
5. Strong communication, influencing, problem-solving and change leadership skills.