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!
FAQs
Congratulations, we understand that taking the time to apply is a big step. When you apply, your details go directly to the consultant who is sourcing talent. Due to demand, we may not get back to all applicants that have applied. However, we always keep your resume and details on file so when we see similar roles or see skillsets that drive growth in organizations, we will always reach out to discuss opportunities.
Yes. Even if this role isn’t a perfect match, applying allows us to understand your expertise and ambitions, ensuring you're on our radar for the right opportunity when it arises.
We also work in several ways, firstly we advertise our roles available on our site, however, often due to confidentiality we may not post all. We also work with clients who are more focused on skills and understanding what is required to future-proof their business.
That's why we recommend registering your CV so you can be considered for roles that have yet to be created.
Yes, we help with CV and interview preparation. From customised support on how to optimise your resume to interview preparation and compensation negotiations, we advocate for you throughout your next career move.