Material Planner

Job Title: Material Processor / Junior Material Planner Job Description
The Material Processor / Junior Material Planner supports purchasing and material planning activities to ensure production has the materials required to meet customer demand. This role collaborates closely with suppliers, production, logistics, and purchasing teams to manage purchase orders, monitor inventory, resolve material shortages, and maintain accurate delivery schedules within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Responsibilities
- Create and manage purchase orders for production materials and components.
- Monitor inventory levels and material requirements based on current and upcoming production schedules.
- Communicate proactively with suppliers regarding orders, delivery dates, shortages, and schedule changes.
- Track open purchase orders and expedite materials when necessary to prevent production disruptions.
- Collaborate with production and logistics teams to identify, investigate, and resolve material shortages.
- Maintain accurate purchasing, inventory, and supplier information within the ERP/MRP system.
- Assist with supplier performance tracking, pricing analysis, and purchasing-related reporting.
- Support inventory reduction initiatives and continuous improvement in material planning processes.
- Help resolve discrepancies involving quantities, delivery timing, pricing, or invoices.
- Coordinate with different internal stakeholders in a matrixed organization to ensure alignment on material needs and priorities.
Essential Skills
- 13 years of experience in buying, purchasing, material planning, or inventory coordination, or strong interest in supply chain for entry-level candidates with a bachelors degree.
- Ability to work effectively in a matrixed organization and communicate clearly with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience with Microsoft Excel, including the ability to create and use formulas for data analysis and reporting.
- Familiarity with ERP or MRP software; SAP knowledge is a plus but experience with any ERP system is acceptable.
- Understanding of purchasing processes and supplier quality considerations.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple purchase orders and priorities simultaneously.
- Attention to detail to maintain accurate purchasing, inventory, and supplier records.
- Problem-solving skills to identify and resolve material shortages and discrepancies.
- Ability to work successfully in a very fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelors degree, ideally with a focus or interest in supply chain, operations, business, or a related field.
- Exposure to supplier quality, pricing analysis, and purchasing-related reporting.
- Comfort working with cross-functional teams including production, logistics, and purchasing.
- Interest in inventory reduction and continuous improvement initiatives within material planning.
Work Environment
This role is based onsite in a manufacturing facility, working Monday through Friday. Most team members start between 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and work an eight-hour shift. The environment is fast paced, with frequent interaction across production, logistics, and purchasing teams, and regular use of ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Excel to manage materials and inventory.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Columbus, IN.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $35.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Columbus, IN.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 24, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Columbus,IN.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.