Material Planner

Role Overview

As a Material Planner at Ather Energy's Hosur factory, you will lead a dedicated team within the Central Planning group, which is the strategic nucleus of our commercial operations. You will be responsible for forecasting and managing the seamless flow of materials required for products and maintenance, ensuring alignment with the organization's production, service, and inventory goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and continuously assess efficient processes governing material movement from suppliers to end-use points for finished goods, service parts, and components needed for final assembly and plant upkeep.
• Balance production, service requirements, and inventory plans in close coordination with the Supply Operations division.
• Create analytical models to evaluate long-term component demand against multiple planning scenarios and OEM capacity constraints.
• Identify, analyze, and mitigate various domestic and global risks impacting material planning to safeguard supply and operations.
• Recognize material management bottlenecks affecting production targets, initiating corrective measures and championing the Inventory Turn Ratio KPI across the company.
• Reduce excess and obsolete inventory to minimize financial exposure.
• Enhance integration of material and inventory management functions.
• Lead supply chain engineering change implementations.
• Drive process improvements in material planning by benchmarking against industry best practices and collaborating with the Supply Chain Design team.
• Maintain coordination across verticals and horizontal departments via the Head of Department to ensure smooth forecasting and material planning.
• Oversee supplier capacity planning, assessments, and ramp-up strategies to achieve annual volume targets.
• Monitor global logistics challenges and geopolitical risks to protect production continuity.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Industrial, Automobile, Production, or Mechanical Engineering from a top-tier institution.
• MBA from a premier institute or equivalent professional certifications such as CSCP, CPIM, CPSM, CSCM, or IBF certification.
• 10 to 13 years of practical experience in material planning and inventory management.
• Two professional references from recent employers to validate experience credentials.

Essential Skills and Competencies

• Proven track record as a production planner.
• In-depth knowledge of production planning and quality control principles.
• Practical experience using SAP modules including Order Management, PP, and MM.
• Hands-on with scheduling tools such as APS and MES.
• Competency in MS Office or Google Office suites and ERP systems.
• Strong communication skills for effective collaboration and team leadership.

Preferred Skills

• Advanced proficiency in SAP MM and PP modules.
• Prior experience with planning, inventory management, and analytics in manufacturing.
• Understanding of Bills of Materials, master data management, and lead-time scheduling techniques.
• Resilience in high-pressure environments and adaptability to ongoing change.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of material planners and schedulers.
• Promote adoption of advanced planning technologies including AI forecasting and automated replenishment tools.

About Ather Energy

We pioneered India’s first intelligent scooter, creating a smart and clean urban commute experience. Our product line includes models such as the Ather 450X, 450S, 450 Apex, and Rizta. Alongside, we are developing a comprehensive charging infrastructure and redefining ownership experience. We value diversity and inclusion, striving to build an equitable workplace reflecting a spectrum of identities and experiences united by a common passion.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We celebrate diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all employees. Our team represents varied backgrounds and perspectives, driving the Ather journey forward together.