Materials Planner

Job Description

About the Team

The Materials team ensures that direct materials are available when production requires them while supporting inventory and operational targets. The team works closely with Production Planning, Logistics, Receiving, Finance, Engineering, and external suppliers to identify supply risks and maintain continuity. It also supports inventory optimization, supplier performance, engineering changes, and compliance with applicable quality, environmental, health, and safety standards.

What you can look forward to as Material Planner:

• Plan and release direct-material requirements to suppliers, ensuring timely availability for production.
• Monitor raw-material inventory, supplier under-shipments and over-shipments, and compliance with established system parameters.
• Identify critical suppliers and materials, update risk reports, and coordinate transit and coverage reviews with Logistics.
• Maintain accurate planning data and transactions in QAD, including transit information, invoice storage, and discrepancy follow-up.
• Support monthly financial activities, including provisions, remaining raw-material purchase values, and supplier reconciliation.
• Manage supplier incidents and recovery actions related to shortages, missing invoices, premium freight, and production-line disruptions.
• Communicate requirement variations to MPS and collaborate with Receiving, Finance, Logistics, suppliers, and other internal stakeholders.
• Support engineering changes and help achieve targets related to obsolete materials and continuous improvement.

Your Profile as Material Planner:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• Approximately four years of relevant experience in materials planning, logistics, supply chain, or a comparable area. Internal promotion may be considered with less experience.
• Advanced English proficiency and the ability to communicate effectively with internal stakeholders and suppliers.
• Advanced knowledge of MRP systems, QAD planning transactions and reports, Cyberquery reporting, and PTA air-freight approval processes.
• Knowledge of MPS processes, Incoterms, international traffic processes, engineering changes, and the handling of damaged materials.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organization, and supplier-management capabilities.
• Familiarity with quality and management systems such as IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001.
• Availability to travel and provide support outside regular working hours when operationally required.

Why you should choose ZF in Santa Rosa?

• Work in a global automotive company with opportunities to collaborate across international teams and supply chain functions.
• Take on a key role that directly impacts production continuity, inventory optimization, and supplier performance.
• Gain exposure to industry-leading planning, quality, environmental, and health & safety management systems.
• Develop your career in a collaborative environment focused on continuous improvement, operational excellence, and professional growth.