Position: Senior Raw Material Planner
Company: Global FMCG / Manufacturing Organization
Location: Japan
Employment Type: Full-time
Overview
This role sits within a global organization focused on supply chain excellence and operational efficiency. The company operates across manufacturing and distribution environments, supporting business growth through strong planning, procurement, and supplier collaboration.
As part of a cross-functional and international environment, this role plays a critical part in ensuring raw material availability aligns with production and sales objectives, while maintaining optimal inventory levels and minimizing risk.
Position Summary
The Senior Raw Material Planner is responsible for end-to-end planning and execution of raw material supply to support production and sales demand. This includes managing purchase orders, maintaining accurate system data, monitoring supplier performance, and proactively mitigating supply risks.
The role requires strong coordination with suppliers and internal stakeholders, as well as expertise in ERP systems to ensure accurate and efficient planning processes.
Key Responsibilities
Purchase Order & Supplier Management
Ensure accuracy of purchase orders in line with company policies
Confirm order details with vendors including delivery schedules, quantities, and specifications
Build strong relationships with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders
Track and expedite orders by coordinating with suppliers and logistics partners
Planning & System Management
Maintain and update purchase orders in ERP systems (SAP)
Conduct demand reviews with commercial teams and supply plan reviews with stakeholders
Ensure planning parameters are accurate and aligned with operational needs
Inventory & Risk Management
Monitor inventory levels to maintain optimal stock levels across the network
Identify risks related to slow-moving or obsolete materials and take corrective action
Proactively manage potential stock-outs and expedite deliveries when needed
Analyze forecasts to determine appropriate inventory strategies
Cross-functional Collaboration
Work closely with product development teams to support new product launches
Provide supply planning input to minimize production risks
Coordinate with stakeholders to manage raw material quality issues and corrective actions
Supplier Performance & Continuous Improvement
Monitor supplier performance including delivery reliability and fulfillment
Issue forecasts to vendors and support supplier review meetings
Contribute to improving planning processes and benchmark against best practices
Qualifications
Required
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain, Logistics, or related field
Strong experience in supply chain planning, inventory management, or procurement
Advanced Microsoft Office skills
Business-level English (Japanese preferred)
Preferred
7+ years of experience in supply chain, inventory, or planning roles
5+ years of experience in demand forecasting and capacity planning
Experience with ERP systems (SAP preferred)
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Experience working in cross-functional and international environments