Specialist, Material Planner

Job Title:  Specialist, Material Planner

Job Code: MLP3

Job Location: Northampton, MA

Schedule: (ie 9/80, 4/10, etc…) 9/80

L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing diverse, high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do. 

About L3Harris Technologies:

L3Harris Technologies is an agile global aerospace and defense technology innovator, delivering end-to-end solutions that meet customers’ mission-critical needs. The company provides advanced defense and commercial technologies across space, air, land, sea and cyber domains. L3Harris has approximately $18 billion in annual revenue and 47,000 employees, with customers in more than 100 countries. 

Job Description:

The Materials Planner is responsible for managing and optimizing the end-to-end material planning process within the Supply Chain to ensure the on-time availability of raw materials and finished goods for all contract and non-contract material at a single site. The Materials Planner supports the Production Planning & Control site master production schedule through efficient utilization of the MRP system, including implementation of planning strategies and effective purchasing requisition management. This role will work closely with the Procurement organization to ensure material is proactively planned, ordered, received, stored, and issued to the manufacturing line to support the manufacturing need date, master schedule attainment, and customer on-time delivery. The Materials Planner plays a vital role in maintaining optimal inventory levels, minimizing costs, and ensuring timely delivery of products to customers.

Essential Functions: 

• Review MRP system daily for actions; review and generate reports as required; validate the output for accuracy and initiate corrective action for discrepant issues.


• Actively utilize and maintain key planning parameters within the MRP system (e.g., lead times, planning strategy, codes, etc.) at the site to ensure a high level of data integrity to effectively plan for every part for every program. 


• Analyze and process purchase requisitions and fulfill work orders across multiple projects in a timely manner. Manage and execute project production schedules to meet the Master Production Schedule and contract delivery date.


• Verify and validate L3Harris demand signals to suppliers and interface with Purchasing to resolve due date and shortage issues prior to Work Order release to support customer delivery/contract dates.


• Develop and execute material planning strategies to meet production requirements while maintaining optimal inventory levels.


• Leverage system data to evaluate work order workability, ensure schedule optimization and reprioritization via level-loading of planned orders, and ensure systemic inventory discrepancies are resolved in a timely manner.


• Proactively manage exceptions (material delays, material changes, substitute materials, etc.) and initiate communication between necessary parties to resolve. Notify the Materials Management Manager when available resources do not support the production plan (MPS) or meeting the contract date is at risk.


• Monitor and manage Plant Stock inventory levels. Identify and resolve systemic project assignment-related issues prior to work order issuance. 


• Support the site’s key operational and Supply Chain metrics:  
  
  
  
  • MRP use and data integrity/population 
  
  
  • PO Meeting Manufacturing Need-by Date 
  
  
  • Work Order/Kitting Execution 
  
  
  • Master Schedule Attainment  
  
  
  
  


• Participate in the site’s SIOP process and contribute to material supply-related SIOP activities.  


• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define project timelines, supply chain objectives, and execution strategies for assigned projects.


• Lead and attend meetings and conference calls with internal department representatives as needed.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 4 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 2 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 8 years of prior related experience.


• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations management, supply chain management, or other technical discipline.  


• 3+ years of Materials, Planning, or Inventory experience. 


• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills.


• Strong organizational and time management abilities, with the capacity to manage multiple priorities and meet competing deadlines.


• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel. Must be comfortable working with large data sets to make decisions.


• Excellent communication skills across all levels of the organization.  

Preferred Additional Skills: 

• Strong knowledge of MRP and ERP – SAP experience a plus.  


• Some knowledge of the SIOP process. 


• Familiarity with lean manufacturing concepts and continuous improvement methodologies.


• Familiarity with manufacturing capacity planning.


• Knowledge in defense program planning desired but not required. 


• Six Sigma, Lean, or APICS certification; CPIM certification highly desired. 

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role is $69,500-129,500. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.