Materials Planning Specialist

Position Overview 

IEM is currently seeking a Materials Planning Specialist, MRS for our Surrey, BC location and will report into the Material Replenishment Supervisor. The Materials Planning Specialist, MRS will play a key role in establishing and refining the material replenishment strategies that support IEM Surrey’s lean production system. This individual will be responsible for designing and implementing material flow processes aligned with principles such as Kanban, PFEP, JIT, and FIFO. Ownership of any changes, updates, or continuous improvements to the PFEP, material flow strategy, or replenishment system falls within the MRS team, and this role will be central to building out that ownership model and workflow to clearly define responsibilities between the MRS team and operational execution on the floor. This role will also serve as a cross-functional liaison among Production, Supply Chain, and Fabrication to ensure successful adoption and execution of these systems.

This position offers the opportunity to lead the foundational buildout of lean materials processes and develop broad operational knowledge in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Please note: This position requires 100% in-office presence in our Surrey, BC offices and does not offer remote work.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lean Material Replenishment System Development
  • Design, pilot, and implement lean material replenishment systems including Kanban, PFEP, JIT, and visual replenishment strategies
  • Develop and maintain point-of-use (POU) inventory solutions to reduce material travel and downtime
• Cross-Functional Process Alignment
  • Collaborate closely with Production, Fabrication, Planning, and Warehouse teams to align material delivery processes with work center needs
  • Lead regular reviews and kaizen events to identify gaps and drive standardization
• Kitting, Staging, and Inventory Accuracy
  • Work with warehouse and production staff to improve part staging and kitting processes in support of work center schedules
  • Ensure accurate ERP transactions, drive cycle count integrity, and support real-time inventory visibility
• Continuous Improvement and Lean Culture
  • Serve as a champion for lean transformation efforts related to materials flow and planning
  • Develop and standardize visual management tools to support tiered daily management
• Training and Change Management
  • Train key personnel on lean material systems and practices
  • Document standard work and facilitate knowledge transfer across shifts and departments

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or a relevant degree program
• 1 to 4 years of experience in a manufacturing environment with exposure to materials management, operations planning, or production support; internships or co-op experience will be considered
• Foundational understanding of lean principles such as 5S, value stream mapping, Kanban, and PFEP
• Experience working with ERP systems (Infor preferred) and material tracking solutions
• Effective communication and project management skills with an ability to collaborate across multiple departments
• Demonstrated initiative and drive to improve processes, with a willingness to learn and grow into a larger leadership role

Compensation actually offered for this role will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

[Compensation Range: $35.10 – $43.27]