Materials Planning Team Leader
Essity · Barcelona
Materials Planning Team Leader
We are looking for a Materials Planning Team Leader to join our Professional Hygiene Supply Planning Organization based in Sant Joan Despí (Barcelona), Spain.
In this role, you will lead a team of Materials Planners responsible for ensuring material availability across the network while optimizing service levels, inventory, and cost performance ensuring a smooth production plan. You will play a key role in driving planning excellence, supporting business continuity, and contributing to Essity's Supply Planning transformation journey.
As part of a global and collaborative environment, you will partner closely with internal and external stakeholders, foster continuous improvement, and help shape the future of materials planning through digitalization and best-practice implementation.
About the Role
Reporting to the Supply Planning Operations Manager, you will lead, develop, and support a team of Materials Planners while ensuring effective execution of materials planning activities. You will oversee operational performance, monitor key planning indicators, and collaborate across functions to guarantee material availability and planning excellence.
This role combines people leadership, operational management, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement, making it an excellent opportunity for an experienced planning professional looking to further develop their leadership career within an international organization.
What You Will Do
- Team Leadership & Development: Lead and develop a team of Materials Planners by fostering a collaborative, high-performing environment. You will support team members' growth through coaching, regular performance discussions, and continuous development, while promoting accountability and a strong planning culture
- Planning Excellence: Ensure the effective execution of planning activities to secure products availability across the network. By driving planning best practices and optimizing inventory levels, service performance, and working capital, you will contribute to operational excellence and business continuity
- Stakeholder Management & Collaboration: Act as a key link between the Supply Planning Hub and both internal and external stakeholders. Through strong communication and relationship management, you will facilitate alignment, provide visibility on planning activities, and support effective decision-making across the supply chain
- Performance Management & Continuous Improvement: Drive planning performance by monitoring relevant KPIs, leading root cause analysis activities, and identifying opportunities for improvement. You will proactively address risks and bottlenecks while supporting the implementation of sustainable solutions that enhance efficiency and effectiveness
- Transformation & Digitalization: Play an active role in Essity's Supply Planning transformation journey by supporting the adoption of digital tools, standardized processes, and new ways of working. You will collaborate with the Planning Excellence network to accelerate innovation and continuous improvement initiatives
Who You Are
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field
- Minimum 3 years of experience in Supply Planning, Materials Planning, Production Planning, Inventory Management, or related Supply Chain functions
- Previous experience leading people or demonstrated capability to manage and develop others
- Ability to identify root causes, manage planning exceptions and make sound decisions in complex and fast-moving environments
- Excellent communication and Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to navigate complex cross-functional environments and drive alignment on business priorities.
- Strong analytical and data interpretation skills, with advanced Excel proficiency and experience using reporting and visualization tools such as Power BI
- Experience working with SAP planning solutions (e.g., APO, IBP, S/4HANA) or equivalent supply chain planning systems
- Strong understanding of end-to-end Supply Chain processes
- Continuous improvement mindset and ability to thrive in a dynamic, international environment
- Fluent in English, both written and spoken
What We Can Offer You
Our purpose, Breaking Barriers to Well-being, provides meaning to everything we do. Join us to improve well-being of people and drive positive change for society and the environment. At Essity, you'll feel valued, empowered to grow, and challenged to achieve business results in a collaborative and open atmosphere.
Innovate for Good | Excel Together | Be You with Us
More About Position
This role is based in Sant Joan Despí (Barcelona), Spain, and is part of Essity's Professional Hygiene Supply Planning Organization.
The position will report to the Supply Planning Operations Manager and lead a team of Materials Planners supporting Essity's Professional Hygiene business across the region.
You will work in an international and highly collaborative environment, partnering with stakeholders across Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Procurement, Customer Service, and Planning Excellence to drive operational excellence and support Essity's growth and transformation ambitions.