Materials Planner Specialist

This role reports directly to the Division Materials Manager and serves as a key point of contact for all materials planning, inventory control, and scheduling functions across multiple plants. The Planner Specialist will play a critical role in supporting and driving continues improvement initiatives related to materials, planning, and logistics. The ideal candidate will have strong data analysis skills, the ability to drive process improvements, and a proactive problem-solving mindset. They will work closely with materials managers and planners across plants to standardize processes, identify bottlenecks, and support divisional goals.

Scope/ Supervision and Interaction:

Does Not Have Direct Reports*

*At the discretion of the division this position may include supervisory responsibility.

1. Planning - Acts as the primary point of contact for divisional matters related to materials, planning, and logistics. As such, this position requires thorough understanding of supply chain, ERM/MRP systems, and production scheduling. This position is responsible for establishing, monitoring, and enforcing standardized master data parameters. Evaluates, recommends, and implements changes to the overall planning process consistent with continuous improvement goals.

2. Inventory & Material Management - Analyzes inventory usage, scrap rates, and shrinkage, making data-driven recommendations to optimize inventory levels across the division. Leads efforts to standardize inventory planning processes. Will be responsible for ensuring locations have a plan for every part (PFEP) and plan for every shipment (PFES).

3. Logistics - Will support divisional efforts related to freight cost optimization. Will be responsible for identifying net freight opportunity cot savings through better material flow, optimized shipments, and logistics planning. Coordinates with logistics teams to reduce expedited freight and enhance overall supply chain efficiency. Works cross-functionally to ensure materials arrive on time at the lowest possible cost, balancing service levels and cost efficiency.

4. Data Integrity, Analysis, & Reporting - Ensures planning systems and reports are accurate, minimizing discrepancies between ERP/MRP data and actual material flow. Gathers, analyzes, and reports data around performance indicators, including but not limited to on time delivery, inventory levels, work order attainment, and net freight opportunity. Develops custom reports and dashboards to track divisional materials performance and provide actionable insights for leadership.

5. Coordinates cross-functional activities with Quality Assurance, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Engineering, Inventory Control, Shipping/Receiving, and Contract Administration to ensure a smooth flow of materials through the production process and consistent information regarding status and priorities.

6. Evaluates materials supply and demands. Prepares work orders or purchase requests for the production or purchase of components or parts to support a master production schedule, shop load, and inventory requirements. Coordinates material movements between internal work and storage areas and/or outside processing or suppliers to ensure materials are available when needed.

7. Schedules and expedites the movement of parts by means of move orders and/or stock transfers to meet customer shipping dates and minimize inventory.

8. Applies continuous improvement techniques and methods to internal processes and systems. May lead or be assigned to a special project team.

9. Analyzes inventory usage, scrap, and shrinkage. Recommends and implements any appropriate actions to minimize loss, reduce inventory, and/or increase inventory turnover that would support inventory level objectives.

10. Analyzes proposed changes in methods, schedules, and materials. Recommends actions by analyzing and interpreting data and making comparative analyses.

11. Resolves problems concerning over shipments, shortages, engineering changes, and cancellation of orders.

12. Maintains configuration control on all open orders and appropriate data files as required by division policies and procedures.

13. Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing technical or trade publications, establishing networks, and/or participating in professional associations.

14. Complies with federal, state, and aerospace industry regulations; ensures adherence to requirements and advises management on needed actions. Complies with policies and procedures in Government/Commercial Practices Manual (GPM/CPM).

15. May provide leadership to others in department. Acts as prime contact on high level projects. Establishes goals and objectives required to complete projects. Trains and mentors less experienced employees.

Shares specialized knowledge with others. Represents company on high-level projects. Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed. Work assignments may include cross-functional or project team responsibilities (e.g. continuous improvement).

Education and Experience
Bachelors degree (BA) in Business Administration or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience which has provided both theoretical and practical knowledge in the field. Demonstrated ability to perform the essential functions of the job typically acquired through six or more years of related experience. APICS certificate preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Thorough knowledge of manufacturing resources planning theories, principles, and industry practices. Thorough knowledge of manufacturing resource planning systems, business application software, and interface operations. Ability to effective assess and implement continuous improvement methods (e.g. pull systems, process mapping, JIT). Knowledge of legal, regulatory, and internal policy requirements related to production control. Ability to work on a variety of problems of diverse scope and complexity where analysis and evaluation of various outcomes require tradeoffs. Ability to solve a wide range of difficult problems in imaginative and practical ways and evaluate alternative solutions that may require coordination across multiple teams. Ability to establish goals and objectives to complete projects. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret policies and recommend changes to procedures. Ability to effectively communicate and present information to team members, team leaders, and top management. Ability to respond to significant inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to effectively demonstrate team member competencies and participate in goal-setting, performance feedback, and self-development activities.

TYPICAL MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit. The employee frequently is required to use hands to operate a computer and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. Also expected of the employee is regular attendance, the ability to work cooperatively and professionally with others and members of the public, and the ability to manage multiple tasks at once.

(The essential functions have been provided as examples of types of work performed by employees assigned to this job classification. The Company reserves the right to modify the work assignments and/or to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job. The physical and mental demands described above are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.)

Additional Comments:

The essential functions have been provided as example of the type of work performed by employees assigned to this job classification. The company reserves the right to modify the work assignments and/or to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions. The job description is not intended to be an inclusive list of duties and responsibilities. It is intended to describe the general nature of the position.

Parker is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Parker is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job related reasons regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required for all positions, and certain positions may require specific types of legal work authorizations. Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran/VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the law, please go to http://www.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf or
http://www1.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/eeoc_gina_supplement.pdf

Parker is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Parker is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job related reasons regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. However, U.S. Citizenship, Permanent Residency or other appropriate status is required for certain positions, in accord with U.S. import & export regulations.

("Minority / Female / Disability / Veteran / VEVRAA Federal Contractor")

If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the law, please go to Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (eeoc.gov) and Genetic Information Discrimination