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Senior Material PlannerUnilever · Chicago, IL
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Unilever

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Senior Material Planner

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🗓️ Posted 2026-09-09 Chicago, IL Hybrid Manufacturing Transport Logistics
💰 Salary Not shared 📊 Market 3,750 GBP–5,417 GBP/mo

About the Company

Job Title: Sr. Material Planner Hybrid Role - 3 days in office, 2 days WFH Location: Chicago, IL - Kilbourn factory JOB PURPOSE The primary purpose of this position is to manage the sourcing of raw and packaging materials to support the growth agenda of our business by reviewing material availability for production of finished goods at our Unilever Manufacturing sites. The material planner will own expediting and de-expediting of packaging materials to support the plant production schedule, and customer service while optimizing inventory levels; this will require working with procurement and suppliers to improve vendor reliability and responsiveness as well as ensuring factory alignment. The planner must be able to make decisions that will balance service with cost to ensure that diverse business objectives are met. This position encompasses all categories within the foods network and engages with cross-functional stakeholders to achieve results. This position acts as a focal point in managing the MRP process, key step within the E2E Supply Chain Planning pillar. In this role you will be part of a team that has got a winning spirit and a passion for delivering results. The key metrics of this role are 1) Customer Service (Losses driven by material gaps/delays) 2) Waste reduction 3) Materials inventory management.

Responsibilities

  • ● Evaluate material requirements based on system generated MRP and requisition materials accordingly. Expedite and de-expedite raw and package materials to support and maintain a flexible production schedule while communicating with Business Units and supporting delivery of high customer satisfaction.
  • ● Responsible for implementing and adhering the inventory strategy required to support business needs defined by CMRP.
  • ● Monitor raw and package inventory to achieve continuous improvement in inventory optimization and minimize waste for obsoletes and run outs
  • ● Own, monitor, update, and manage master data to allow systems to optimize plans
  • ● Manage invoicing exceptions
  • ● Supporting innovation launches and material set ups to deliver flawless launches
  • ● Interface with Production Managers, Mix Room Supervisors, Procurement, Warehouse, Transportation, Suppliers, Quality, R&D, Supply planners and other Material Planners in other Sites to ensure reliable production schedule.
  • ● Be a "change leader", implement standard best practices and adopt new tools.
  • ● Apply World Class Manufacturing principals to identify major loss areas and facilitate process improvement.
  • ● Bachelor's degree with focus in an analytical discipline preferred (e.g. Supply Chain Management, computer science, math, statistics, economics, engineering, etc.).
  • ● A minimum of 3 years' experience in supply chain. At least 2 years in material requirements planning is preferred
  • ● Being able to balance objectives of different teams that are sometimes at tension with each other and influencing a group of practitioners to change behaviors even though you do not have direct authority over them will be critical to success.
  • ● Understanding of data-mining techniques, root cause analysis and statistical methods
  • ● Proficiency in PC based software tools, specially MS Excel. Knowledge of SAP ECC a plus
  • ● Ability to work independently and as a team, self-starter