Role Purpose:

The Raw Materials Buyer & Planner plays a critical role in supporting the Master Production Plan and Schedule by ensuring the timely, cost-effective and compliant supply of all raw materials. The role is responsible for Materials Requirements Planning (MRP), translating demand and production plans into accurate material requirements, enabling uninterrupted manufacturing operations while balancing service level, inventory risk and working capital objectives.

The role has accountability for raw material planning, ensuring that MRP outputs are accurate, actionable and continuously optimised through effective parameter management, supplier collaboration and data-driven decision making. By actively managing inventory levels, lead times and supplier performance, the role mitigates supply risk, supports business growth and protects customer service levels.

Working cross-functionally with Procurement, Production, Production Planning, Quality, Technical, Finance and Warehouse teams, the Raw Materials Buyer Planner acts as a key connector between demand, supply and execution. The role also contributes to continuous improvement, cost optimisation and new product introductions, ensuring the supply chain remains agile, resilient and aligned to business strategy.

Role Responsibilities 

MRP, Planning & Inventory Management

• Execute Materials Requirements Planning (MRP) to support the Master Production Plan and production schedules, ensuring raw materials are available in the right quantity and at the right time.

• Create and maintain purchasing and material supply plans aligned to demand, production and warehouse capacity.

• Review and validate MRP calculations to ensure accurate BOM-driven replenishment and minimise supply risk.

• Maintain and optimise planning parameters in SAP for all SKUs (lead times, lot sizes, safety stock, reorder points).

• Manage raw material stock levels to balance service level, risk mitigation and working capital targets.

• Oversee raw material lifecycle management, ensuring the availability of new materials while minimising obsolescence of discontinued items.

Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Own all planning-related and tactical purchasing activities supporting the production plan.

• Convert approved requisitions into purchase orders and manage PO release and approval with external suppliers.

• Track purchase order confirmations, availability and delivery performance, expediting or de-expediting as required.

• Create and manage inbound deliveries in SAP for internal and external warehousing.

• Submit and manage 12-month rolling monthly raw material forecasts to suppliers.

• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to improve service, flexibility, availability and cost.

• Track and analyse supplier performance, maintaining supplier scorecards across cost, quality and delivery metrics.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication

• Collaborate closely with Procurement, Production, Production Planning & Scheduling, Quality, Technical, Customer Service and Warehouse teams to align material availability with manufacturing requirements.

• Proactively communicate material shortages, delays or availability risks and support mitigation planning.

• Represent Purchasing and MRP Planning in New Product Introduction (NPI) and change management projects.

Cost Control, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Analyse raw material spend and inventory data, preparing and presenting reports versus budget and targets.

• Support cost-saving and working capital initiatives through optimised order quantities, order patterns and supplier collaboration.

• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across MRP, planning accuracy, supplier performance and inventory efficiency.

Financial & Compliance Responsibilities

• Support the timely resolution of supplier invoice queries in collaboration with the Finance team.

• Ensure compliance with internal purchasing policies, governance standards and system controls 

This is not an exhaustive list and may be subject to change and amendment.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Essential (Non-negotiable)

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in raw material purchasing, MRP planning, supply planning or a closely related supply chain role, with clear accountability for material availability and production support.

• Demonstrated analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills within a fast-paced, deadline-driven manufacturing or FMCG environment, with the ability to interpret complex data and translate it into practical actions.

• Strong working knowledge of Materials Requirements Planning (MRP) principles, including BOM-driven planning, safety stock calculation, lead-time management, reorder policies, inventory optimisation and management of slow-moving or at-risk materials.

• Hands-on experience using ERP systems, ideally SAP S/4HANA, with specific exposure to SAP MRP and SAP IBP (or equivalent planning and forecasting tools).

• Advanced data analysis capability, including strong Excel skills (pivot tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, forecasting and scenario modelling templates) and the ability to build clear, data-driven reports to support decision making.

• Ability to plan, prioritise and deliver results within defined timelines, managing multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail and data accuracy.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to clearly articulate risks, priorities and recommendations to both internal stakeholders and external suppliers.

• Proven ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a cross-functional, matrix-based organisation.

Desirable (Value Adding)

• Experience working with multi-geography suppliers and managing complex vendor relationships across different regions or time zones.

• Exposure to New Product Introduction (NPI) or material change projects within a manufacturing or FMCG environment.

• Experience contributing to continuous improvement, lean supply chain or cost optimisation initiatives.

• Familiarity with supplier scorecarding, KPI development and structured supplier performance management.

Qualifications & Certifications

• Formal Education: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Purchasing, Business, Engineering or a related discipline.

• Certifications: Relevant professional qualifications in supply chain, purchasing or planning (e.g. CIPS, APICS/ASCM) are advantageous.

• Equivalency Statement: Where formal qualifications are not held, a minimum of 5 years’ directly relevant experience within Manufacturing, Supply Planning or Purchasing may be considered equivalent.

WaterWipes Competencies to Perform the Role

• Accountability: Takes full ownership of raw material availability and MRP outcomes, delivering commitments reliably and taking responsibility for resolving issues that impact production or supply.

• Decision Making: Uses data, MRP outputs and stakeholder input to make timely, well‑reasoned decisions, clearly communicating rationale and trade‑offs.

• Driving for Results: Maintains a strong delivery focus, ensuring material plans and purchasing actions support production requirements despite changing priorities or constraints.

• Driving Performance: Proactively identifies risks and improvement opportunities, escalates issues appropriately and drives corrective actions to maintain supply continuity.

• Managing Resources: Effectively manages inventory, supplier capacity and working capital, adapting plans to changing demand while maintaining control and efficiency.

• Teamwork: Collaborates constructively across functions, contributing expertise and working with others to achieve shared supply chain and business objectives.

• Integrity: Acts with honesty and professionalism in all interactions, upholding WaterWipes values, policies and ethical standards.

Functional Competencies to Perform the Role

• Advanced execution of Materials Requirements Planning (MRP), including interpretation of demand signals, BOM accuracy and exception management.

• SAP proficiency across purchasing and planning processes, including SAP S/4HANA, SAP MRP and SAP IBP (or equivalent ERP systems).

• Inventory management and optimisation, including safety stock setting, lead-time management, excess and obsolete stock control and lifecycle planning.

• Tactical purchasing and purchase order management, including forecasting, expediting, supplier communication and delivery tracking.

• Supplier performance management, including scorecarding, KPI tracking and continuous improvement collaboration.

• Strong data analysis and reporting capability to support planning accuracy, cost control, working capital optimisation and decision making.

Why work for us?
‘The WaterWipes Way’ is underpinned by our Values of: Bravery, Excellence & Respect
We look for individuals who will drive acceptable actions and behaviours that will reflect our vision and values.

WaterWipes offers all the benefits of an established global brand, along with the exciting possibilities of an organisation that lives and breathes change.

There are so many reasons to join us on our ambitious journey to becoming an iconic global brand. Check out our careers page to find out more !