Material Planner

Material Planner

We are excited to announce an opening for a Material Planner in our Springfield, VA location! This person will be responsible for supporting the material acquisition plans and must have the ability to work with the programs stakeholders in generating material requirements and providing the necessary support of acquisition plans from start to finish. The Material Planner works closely with internal teams, including production, logistics, procurement and finance, to align procurement planning activities with business needs and resolve issues related to quality, delivery, or payment.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams such as production, logistics, and finance to forecast needs and adjust procurement strategies accordingly
• Coordinate forecasts, workload, expediting, and acquisition priority working with broader supply chain organization
• Manage inventory levels in coordination with internal teams to meet production and operational demands
• Initiate procurement requirements/requests and track the status of deliveries to ensure on-time receipt
• Collaborate with procurement to research, evaluate, and select suppliers based on quality, cost, service, and reliability
• Interact with vendors to achieve favorable outcomes on procurements
• Maintain accurate procurement records including purchases, pricing, and vendor performance data
• Resolve supplier issues related to delivery delays, quality discrepancies, or invoice/payments
• Ensure compliance with company policies, industry regulations, and contractual obligations
• Coordinate warranty issues and communicate with manufacturers regarding replacements or repairs
• Monitor market trends, supplier innovations, and cost drivers to identify opportunities for process or cost improvement

Basic Qualifications:

• Active TS/SCI w/Poly clearance is required.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field
• 48 years of experience in supplier contract management, procurement, or supply chain operations; or a Master's degree with 26 years of relevant experience
• Candidates with experience in procurement AND/OR a combination of certifications, training, education, or military experience will be considered in lieu of degree.
• Strong understanding of procurement processes, supplier development, and risk mitigation strategies
• Experience in supplier relationship management, supply-base diversity, and cost optimization
• Strong communication and analytical skills to influence stakeholders and develop solutions to ambiguous or multifaceted problems
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and work across multiple systems simultaneously
• Attention to detail
• Proficiency in procurement software or enterprise systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Coupa, CostPoint).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with DFARS, FAR, and Government contract regulatory compliance, particularly in a defense or regulated industry
• Professional certifications such as Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), or NCMA CPCM/CFCM
• Buying or subcontracting experience
• Expertise in project management methodologies and tools (e.g., PMP certification, Agile frameworks)
• Advanced data analysis capabilities to assess supplier performance, contract risk, and cost efficiency
• Robust change management skills and experience driving process improvements within supply chain or procurement functions
• Experience working in aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated industries such as EC-DAS