Specialist Materials Planning

Job Title: Specialist Materials Planning

Job Location:  Hershey, PA

This position can be located in Hershey, PA, Austin, TX, Indiana Pretzels, Inc., Weaver locations, or Kansas Dot’s/Pretzels, Inc. locations.  You need to be able to work in one of these buildings three days a week.

Job Summary:

This position is responsible for managing all raw and packaging materials at assigned Hershey Salty plant(s) and/or co-man/co-pack provider(s). This includes ensuring that the right materials and services are available at the right places and times in the required quantities at the optimal total cost of ownership.  Scope of expectations (commensurate with salary grade) to be determined based upon skills, experience, capabilities, and performance in position.

Role Responsibilities:

• Manage the entire process of raw and packaging material fulfillment at assigned locations from material order placement to arrival at production location. Consistent with corporate processes and strategies, utilize sound business and procurement skills to accomplish the following:  order materials, expedite/de-expedite orders, and adjust order quantities. Understand the metrics used to measure successful performance and how specific actions support achievement of specific goals.  Metrics considered may include inventory levels, obsolete expense, inbound freight expense, and Purchase Price Variance.   As conditions warrant, manage the (1) the write-off, disposal, & payment for obsolete packaging and (2) payment & storage of materials not immediately needed in production.
• Stay informed of upcoming changes which may affect material orders using SAP MRP, Accolade/PLM, and other Hershey provided tools.  In addition, excellent communication skills are required.
• Manage the transactional aspects of Purchase Price Variance, ensuring that timely and accurate cost standards are in place and are consistent with supplier contract pricing.
• When service or quality issues are unresolved at a given location, work with location and supplier to reach fair and permanent resolution.  Escalate involvement within the Sourcing team as conditions require.  Maintain good supplier relationships through clear, direct, and timely communications and feedback.  Facilitate meetings between suppliers and Hershey stakeholders as needed.
• Understand raw and packaging supplier capabilities and limitations as well as packaging material manufacturing processes.  Translate this collective knowledge into order management plans which ensure timely delivery of the right materials in the right quantities at the right prices. As appropriate, develop and implement risk management strategies to ensure best possible performance is achieved in unfavorable or unexpected circumstances.  Translate strategies into specific standard operating processes and implement with cross-functional alignment and support.
• As supplier sourcing changes or material specification changes occur, ensure smooth and trouble-free transitions and fulfillment by working with project management and cross-functional partners. Utilize strong interpersonal skills and excellent communication to work collaboratively with all functional Hershey team members. This may include close work with key stakeholders including Marketing teams, Pkg. Development & Graphics teams, Global Manufacturing Alliances, Plant Logistics, and Supply and Demand Planners. The outcome of this work is trouble-free fulfillment activities.  This work may range from early identification of issues to hands-on project execution.  Communicate appropriate information to management as necessary.
• Act as the Hershey point-person for all raw and packaging related issues for assigned co-manufacturing facilities under your assigned responsibilities. Work with Sourcing colleagues to identify opportunities to continuously improve the activities and performance of the group.  This work will include activities such as developing processes which improve specific metric performance (i.e. obsolete packaging expense) to ideas which reduce the cost of materials (i.e. new suppliers, new production processes).  

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, engineering, supply chain, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 1 year business experience in procurement, engineering, supply planning or other analytical/business function.
• Intermediate user of Microsoft Office Tools, with focus on Excel
• Working knowledge of SAP a plus
• Working knowledge of Accolade/PLM processes a plus
• Strong personal and professional values, impeccable integrity; and the energy level and stamina required to meet the demands of the position. 
• Strong, demonstrated skills and expertise in materials management, procurement and/or supply chain management.
• Flexible and willing to adjust and multi-task through a dynamic workload to ensure timely results.
• Possesses exceptional planning and organization skills. 
• Knowledge of packaging specifications and methods of manufacturing
• Attention to detail with accuracy and timeliness in performing work.
• Excellent computer skills with the ability to adapt to the use of new systems.
• Willingness to learn, adapt, and grow as an individual and collectively as an organization.
• Communicate persuasively, effectively, and confidently to a wide range of internal and external customers.  Dialog is clear, direct, and timely. 
• Problem solving and the ability to exercise good business judgment in a fast-paced working environment.
• Ability to maintain good supplier relationships.
• Team player.  Ability to work collaboratively without boundaries.  Welcome different points of view and diverse ideas.

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