Material Planning Manager (m/f/d)

Location: Kassel, Germany

Salary: Competitive

Company Summary

A leading global organisation in the manufacturing sector is seeking an experienced Material Planning Manager to join their team in Kassel. The company operates internationally with a strong reputation for engineering excellence, high‑quality production, and long‑term commitment to operational efficiency and sustainable transportation solutions.

The business is currently focused on strengthening its end‑to‑end supply chain, enhancing planning accuracy, and improving supplier reliability. With ongoing investments in digitalisation, standardised processes, and best‑in‑class operational systems, this is an exciting time to join a company undergoing meaningful transformation.

About the Role

As the Material Planning Manager, you will lead the team responsible for material planning, supplier delivery performance, master data accuracy, and ensuring material availability for production.

This role ensures that processes are correctly executed, supply risks are effectively managed, and planning standards are consistently applied. It is a hands‑on leadership position that requires strong coordination, stakeholder management, and continuous‑improvement mindset.

You will play a key role in maintaining production continuity, improving supplier performance, and strengthening planning capabilities within the Kassel site.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee creation, accuracy, and timely release of all Material Planning documents.
• Maintain and validate material master data, ensuring alignment with stock levels, logistics constraints, and supplier agreements.
• Monitor MRP exception messages and proactively address supply risks, shortages, and backlogs.
• Track and improve supplier delivery KPIs.
• Lead supplier escalations and support planners in corrective action development.
• Work closely with procurement to assess risks, evaluate capacity, and support supplier selection.
• Apply capacity management and capability assessment processes when necessary.
• Support production teams by resolving supply issues and ensuring readiness of critical materials.
• Collaborate with logistics, quality, engineering, production, procurement, and finance.
• Coordinate with internal company sites acting as inter‑plant suppliers.
• Lead and develop a team of Material Planners, ensuring strong performance, process adherence, and capability growth.
• Conduct regular reviews and ensure planning cycles and confirmation routines are fully executed.
• Deploy improvement plans aimed at cost efficiency, supply stability, and planning quality.
• Apply company operational excellence systems and support site performance initiatives.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in material planning, supply chain, or production planning within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading teams and managing supplier performance.
• Strong understanding of MRP, planning techniques, material flow, and inventory management.
• Knowledge of SAP or similar ERP systems is highly desirable.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across functions.
• Fluency in English required, German is beneficial

If you are interested in the Material Planning Manager role based in Kassel, Germany, please apply today!