Inbound Material Planner Team Lead

This is a hybrid role, seeking someone with significant experience working with both rail and bulk truck logistics. The Inbound Material Planner Team Lead will be directly responsible for the security and continuity of inbound material supply whilst minimizing spurious spend due to excess inventory, demurrage, or unplanned non optimal delivery costs. They will create robust processes of standardized order management and liaise with plant personnel for timely goods receipt.The team lead will orchestrate process improvements for demand forecasting, goods receipt & invoice control whilst providing expertise in MRP, BOM & inventory consumption best practice.Additionally, in time, the Team Lead will create, train, and lead a small team of Inbound Material Planners who will eventually cover these responsibilities over the entire NA plant network. This is a new position and the candidate will need to understand and manage the overall demand for raw materials, inbound delivery lead times, and work closely with internal plant personnel and other stakeholders to optimize the supply chain.Responsibilities: Material Planning & Scheduling: Develop and maintain schedules for inbound shipments of raw materials, coordinating deliveries by rail and truck to multiple sites.Demand Forecasting: Analyze and understand raw material demand data and production requirements to align material deliveries with business needs.Lead Time Management: Monitor and manage lead times for raw material deliveries, proactively addressing potential delays and collaborating with internal teams to minimize disruptions.Team Leadership & Development: Create, manage, and lead a small team of Planning Coordinators. Provide training, mentorship, and performance management to ensure team members are aligned with departmental goals and best practices.Supplier & Carrier Coordination: Collaborate with suppliers, freight carriers, and internal teams to ensure on-time, accurate transportation of raw materials.Logistics Optimization: Continuously assess transportation routes, methods, and delivery schedules to optimize costs, efficiency, and delivery timelines.Inventory Management Support: Establish critical inventory parameters (ABC classification), safety stock settings, replenishment quantity and launch quantity — considering constraints and inputs variability, such as lead time, cycle time & short line/rail delivery constraints.Compliance & Documentation: Ensure compliance with regulatory standards and company policies for all inbound shipments. Maintain accurate records of shipments, delivery statuses, and lead times.Emergency Response: Address and resolve issues related to shipping delays, damaged goods, or any discrepancies, ensuring no disruption to production schedules.Reporting & Analysis: Generate reports on logistics performance, lead times, and inventory levels. Provide insights and recommendations for continuous improvement based on data analysis.