Materials Planner

Our client is a well-established, international food production and ingredients organisation with multiple manufacturing sites in Europe. They operate in a fast-paced supply chain environment where service, quality, and continuity of production are critical. The culture is professional, collaborative, and focused on continuous improvement. For our client, we are looking for a Materials Planner to lead a small European materials planning team and ensure the timely availability of raw and packaging materials for production.

The Materials Planning Team Lead (SAP) balances day-to-day operational priorities with a more tactical, forward-looking approach, working closely with internal stakeholders and suppliers to protect supply continuity.

Responsibilities include: leading and supporting a small materials planning team responsible for raw and packaging material availability across multiple production sites; managing the end-to-end ordering process for materials, ensuring orders are placed accurately and on time; monitoring and optimising inventory levels while supporting working capital targets; translating production plans into material requirements and adjusting plans when schedules change; coordinating and resolving supplier-related issues, including delivery problems and purchase complaints; ensuring accurate order handling and invoice control in collaboration with relevant internal teams; driving performance management for the materials planning scope, including supplier delivery performance (e.g., OTIF) and inventory value; preparing and running structured supplier performance reviews and aligning on improvement actions; building and maintaining contingency approaches to reduce risk and improve supply reliability; supporting escalations when supply risks impact production, and aligning actions with key stakeholders; identifying improvement opportunities and taking ownership for implementing practical solutions.

Requirements: Bachelor-level education (Supply Chain, Logistics, or a related field); strong experience in materials planning / supply planning / ERP planning; proven ability to lead, guide, or coach a team (formal people leadership is a plus); solid SAP proficiency (required); fluent in Dutch and English (German is a plus); strong communication skills and confident stakeholder management; proactive, improvement-minded, and able to challenge the status quo constructively; willingness to travel regularly to a Dutch production site and occasionally to a German site; temporary full-time contract (6 months).

Other Information: The role is based in the Netherlands with a mix of on-site and hybrid working, depending on business needs. Regular interaction with production, procurement, and suppliers is key, and the successful candidate will be comfortable operating in a time-sensitive supply environment. If you are interested and want to apply, please submit your application via the apply button below and contact me.