Lead Material Planner

The Opportunity

Join Hitachi and take ownership of a critical supply chain function where your expertise will directly support manufacturing excellence. As a Lead Material Planner, you will drive material availability, optimize inventory performance, and enhance supply chain efficiency within our Transformer business, while leading a small team and contributing to the success of a global technology leader.

How you will make an impact

• Develop and execute material planning strategies to support production schedules and business objectives.
• Analyze demand forecasts, production plans, inventory levels, and material availability to determine procurement requirements.
• Create and manage purchase requisitions and material replenishment plans through SAP.
• Ensure timely availability of raw materials, components, and consumables to avoid production disruptions.
• Collaborate closely with Procurement, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to align material requirements and delivery schedules.
• Monitor supplier performance, lead times, material shortages, and potential supply chain risks; implement mitigation plans as required.
• Manage inventory parameters including safety stock, reorder points, excess inventory, and obsolescence reduction initiatives.
• Drive inventory optimization and working capital improvement while maintaining required service levels.
• Utilize SAP MM (Materials Management) for material planning, inventory control, purchasing transactions, and reporting.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on planning accuracy, supply chain efficiency, and cost reduction.
• Prepare and present material planning KPIs, inventory reports, shortage analysis, and performance dashboards to management.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 2 material planners, ensuring effective workload allocation and performance management.
• Establish best practices, standard operating procedures, and governance within the material planning function.

Your background

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering with specialization in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, Operations, or a related field.
• 7-10 years of experience in Material Planning, Supply Chain Planning, Inventory Management, or related functions within the Transformer (TR) industry with 2-3 years of prior people management experience.
• Strong expertise in material planning, demand planning, inventory control, MRP execution, and supplier coordination within a manufacturing environment.
• Mandatory hands-on experience with SAP MM.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and reporting tools.
• Demonstrated capability in coaching, mentoring, performance management, and team development.
• APICS CPIM, CSCP, or other relevant Supply Chain certifications are preferred.
• Experience working in global manufacturing organizations.
• Knowledge of inventory optimization, lean supply chain principles, and continuous improvement methodologies.