Supply & Inventory Planner

As the largest pureplay adhesives company in the world, H.B. Fuller’s (NYSE: FUL) innovative, functional coatings, adhesives and sealants enhance the quality, safety and performance of products people use every day. Founded in 1887, with 2023 revenue of $3.5 billion, our mission to Connect What Matters is brought to life by more than 7,000 global team members who collaborate with customers across more than 30 market segments in over 140 countries to develop highly specified solutions that enable customers to bring world-changing innovations to their end markets.

Multiple Supply & Inventory positions are available.

These roles will be accountable to meet the defined inventory and service level targets for specific technologies. This will be achieved via a scope of work which will include leading and coordinating Americas Supply Chain activities, providing working plans for the sites in the Americas including Rough Cut Capacity Plan, and balancing production and inventory levels with demand to support targets consistent with business strategy, service levels, inventory days of supply, and capacity utilization. 

The Supply & Inventory Planner plays a pivotal coordinating role between the commercial and operations organizations. These roles will develop a 3-18 month rolling aggregate master plan and will be responsible for communicating and reviewing with stakeholders to ensure alignment and taking any necessary actions to balance supply and demand.  

Primary Responsibilities

Medium to Long-Term Planning - 40%

• Medium and long-term capacity planning to ensure plants are in a position meet planned demand and meet key inventory and service level KPIs

• Optimize output of manufacturing assets in line with plant capabilities and demand requirements – this includes balancing of assets within a plant, between plants, addressing any manpower or shift pattern requirements with the plant manager or working with the Contract Manufacturing Manager to leverage external supply where appropriate.

• Ensure all planning parameters within SAP are reviewed and updated regularly to align with our inventory and service level goals

• Create monthly SIOP plan by plant/asset outlining forecast demand/supply balance and anticipated inventory while reviewing previous months’ performance

• Lead monthly reviews of the SIOP plan with each plant providing clear guidance on expected volumes and capacity loading:

• Identify and communicate real or potential capacity and material supply chain issues; initiate corrective actions, coordinate across functions and follow up to resolution

• Drive clear agreement and sign-off on the supply plan with the manufacturing facility

• Review/monitors execution to plan and assure available inventory is located appropriately and take necessary actions where actual performance deviates from the plan

• Works with the SIOP Manager to support preparation of the Executive SIOP review.

Inventory - 40%

• Ownership of Inventory (Finished Goods, Raw Materials, Packaging, and WIP). Establish and maintain safety stock and inventory balances appropriate to meet production requirements, whilst optimizing use of working capital.

• Regular review of ‘Make-to-Stock’ Inventory Levels to ensure inventory is at the target level to support target service level

• Initiate and determine disposition of excess, obsolete and slow-moving inventories in coordination with manufacturing sites and commercial teams to minimize impact to NAA of excess working capital or inventory write-offs.

Short-Term Communication and Decision Making - 10%

• Resolve any materials management issues causing deviations from inventory and service level targets

• Maintains and communicates a valid time-phased weekly master schedule

• Collaboration with Demand Planner to ensure timely communication of demand changes, translating the changes to its impact on the supply plan

• Facilitate daily/weekly/monthly meetings with all stakeholders

Continuous Improvement - 10%

• Define and drive continuous improvement in supply planning process and policy

• Manages or is a team member of ad-hoc projects in cooperation with Operations and Commercial – these can include product transfers within or between plants, raw material substitutions, or new product introduction

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field​ or 5 years of supply chain experience.

• 3 years of experience in supply chain, inventory planning, or related roles within the chemical industry​

• Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and inventory management software

• Demonstrated abilities in change management, project leadership, and teamwork

• Strong ability to analyze data and interpret trends with high versatility in excel data manipulation ​

• Identify and resolve supply chain issues quickly and effectively​

• Excellent communication skills within all levels of the organization and ability to lead meetings both via phone and in person

• Advanced proficiency with supply chain management systems and data analysis tools​

• Expert level intellect relative to inventory management practices, developing and maintaining effective control measures​

• Excellent organization and time management skills

• Fully conversant in Supply Chain SAP systems. Ability to take ownership of a project & make timely informed decisions

Preferred Qualifications

• 5 years’ experience in Supply Chain Planning

• APICS CPIM certification

This position is not eligible for work visa sponsorship. Applicants must have U.S. work authorization that does not now or in the future require H.B. Fuller sponsorship of a work visa to work for H.B. Fuller.

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, and geographic location.

In addition to your salary, H.B. Fuller offers employees a competitive total rewards package including comprehensive benefits, incentive and recognitions programs, health & wellness benefits, 401K contributions, paid time off and paid holidays. Eligibility may vary.

H.B. Fuller is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and proud to have created a collaborative culture where employees around the world are seen, heard, and respected. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, or marital status or status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected classification.

H.B. Fuller does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms. To conduct business with H.B. Fuller, a written service agreement must be executed by Human Resources prior to submitting any information relating to a potential candidate. Without a signed service agreement, H.B. Fuller shall not be obligated for payment of any fee or compensation.