Position Summary
The Head of Department of Material Planning is responsible for providing strategic leadership and governance over the organization's material planning, inventory optimization, spare parts management, demand forecasting, and supply continuity to support port operations.
The role ensures the availability of critical materials while optimizing inventory investment, improving forecast accuracy, enhancing ERP capabilities, and driving continuous improvements across the supply chain. Working closely with Engineering & Facilities, Operations, Procurement & Tender, Warehouse, and Project Integration, the position develops long-term inventory strategies that maximise equipment reliability, operational efficiency, and business resilience.
This position plays a critical leadership role in transforming Material Planning into a data-driven, proactive business partner that supports PTP's operational excellence objectives.
Strategic Purpose
The Head of Department of Material Planning shall:
- Develop long-term inventory and material planning strategies aligned with corporate objectives.
- Ensure uninterrupted availability of critical spare parts and operational materials.
- Optimize working capital through effective inventory management.
- Drive forecasting excellence using analytics and predictive planning.
- Lead ERP optimization and digital transformation initiatives within Material Planning.
- Build organizational capability through succession planning, coaching and leadership development.
- Establish governance frameworks to ensure compliance with inventory policies and planning standards.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Material Planning Leadership
- Develop and execute the organization's Material Planning strategy in alignment with business priorities.
- Establish annual departmental objectives, KPIs and improvement initiatives.
- Lead continuous improvement programmed to optimize inventory performance.
- Develop planning governance, policies and procedures that promote operational excellence.
- Benchmark industry best practices and introduce innovative planning methodologies.
2. Inventory Strategy & Optimization
Lead the development and execution of enterprise inventory strategies by:
- Optimizing inventory investment while maintaining operational readiness.
- Establishing inventory segmentation strategies (ABC, XYZ, Criticality Analysis).
- Reviewing safety stock policies and reorder parameters.
- Managing inventory lifecycle, including slow-moving and obsolete inventory.
- Driving inventory reduction initiatives without compromising equipment reliability.
- Monitoring inventory turnover, carrying costs and stock utilization.
3. Forecasting & Demand Planning
Provide leadership in demand forecasting through:
- Forecast modelling using historical consumption and operational requirements.
- Forecast Accuracy (FA) monitoring.
- Forecast Error analysis.
- Preventive Maintenance demand planning.
- Corrective Maintenance material forecasting.
- Capital project material planning.
- Long-term spare parts forecasting.
Ensure forecast methodologies continuously improve to support operational requirements.
4. Spare Parts & Equipment Reliability Support
Partner with Engineering & Facilities and Operations to:
- Ensure critical spare parts availability.
- Review Bill of Materials (BOM).
- Improve PIPO implementation.
- Support maintenance planning.
- Reduce equipment downtime through proactive planning.
- Develop criticality matrices for high-risk assets.
5. ERP & Digital Transformation
Lead Material Planning digital initiatives including:
- ERP enhancement and optimization.
- Master data governance.
- Inventory analytics dashboards.
- Material planning automation.
- RAMCO ERP improvements.
- User Acceptance Testing (UAT).
- Key User Training (KUT).
- System governance and process standardization.
Promote digital solutions that improve planning visibility and decision-making.
6. Cross Functional Collaboration
Develop strong partnerships with:
- Warehouse
- Procurement & Tender
- Engineering & Facilities
- Operations
- Project Integration
- Finance
- Human Capital
- Suppliers
- External service providers
Ensure alignment between planning, procurement, warehousing and operational requirements.
7. Governance, Risk & Compliance
Ensure compliance with:
- Inventory governance standards.
- Corporate procurement policies.
- Audit requirements.
- IMS requirements.
- ERP governance.
- Risk management frameworks.
- Health, Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE) requirements.
8. Leadership & People Development
Lead and develop a high-performing Material Planning team by:
- Setting performance expectations.
- Coaching and mentoring employees.
- Driving competency development.
- Supporting succession planning.
- Building future leaders.
- Promoting continuous improvement culture.
- Encouraging innovation and collaboration.
Requirements
1. Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Logistics, Operations Management, Business Administration or equivalent.
- Master's Degree or MBA is an added advantage.
- APICS (CPIM/CSCP), CIPS or equivalent professional certification is highly desirable.
2. Experience
- Minimum 10–15 years of progressive experience in Supply Chain, Material Planning or Inventory Management.
- Minimum 5 years in a senior leadership or Head of Department role.
- Experience within ports, logistics, manufacturing, heavy industry, utilities or engineering-intensive environments is highly preferred.
- Demonstrated success in leading organizational transformation and process improvement initiatives.
- Proven experience implementing ERP systems and driving digitalization projects.
- Strong track record in stakeholder management across multi-functional business units.
3. Technical Competencies
- Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
- Demand Forecasting
- Inventory Optimization
- Supply Chain Analytics
- Data Analysis & Reporting
- Inventory Governance
- Master Data Management
- Maintenance Planning
- Business Process Improvement
- Lean & Continuous Improvement
- Risk Management
