AstraZeneca

Senior Planner

AstraZeneca$75K — $95K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Logistics, Business Administration, or related discipline
  • 10 years of professional work experience, with at least 5-7 years in a supply chain environment
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a customer-focused mindset
  • Proficient in cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder influence
  • Advanced skills in supply chain capacity and inventory planning
  • Expert in SAP APO and ECC, ideally with implementation experience
  • Experience in managing supply chain events and understanding of various supply methods (IRL, VMI/CMI)
  • Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement a feasible 0-36 month supply plan aligned with global standards
  • Lead monthly review processes to ensure optimal supply planning and validation
  • Represent site/assets in monthly Product S&OP meetings
  • Conduct variance analysis on inventory actuals and provide root cause commentary
  • Manage inventory forecasting and ensure production volumes meet global standards
  • Maintain integrity of master data aligned with global processes
  • Work with global planners to create and balance short to midterm site capacity plans
  • Monitor and report key performance indicators related to supply chain activities.
  • Support logistics functions and coordinate planning activities to meet customer demands.

Benefits

  • Collaborative working environment with cross-functional teams
  • Opportunity for professional development and growth within the organization
  • Engagement in innovative supply chain processes and problem-solving initiatives
  • Involvement in the global supply chain strategy and planning
  • Work in a key role of supply chain management that directly impacts company performance
  • Possible opportunities for continuing education or certifications like APICS.
Full Job Description

The Senior Planner is accountable for developing and maintaining a feasible and optimal 0 – 36 month supply plan for the site assets as part of the global end to end supply chain. The key processes locally owned/executed by this role include Renewal, Events Management and Asset Allocation. The role provides analytical support to the site and is accountable for managing several inventory and SOX processes to ensure appropriate financial reporting and controls.

This role requires close collaboration with global planning and site process execution teams to ensure site capabilities are accurately understood, supply plans are well developed and able to be executed, and future targets are meaningful and achievable. Promotes a teamwork environment and utilizes proactive participation within the group, evaluates and recommends measures to improve ways of working and Planning area technical capabilities.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:


1) Planning Design

  • Accountable for designing and agreeing the Planning Design in accordance with the Supply Chain Blue Print and Global Supply Planning standards.

2) Monthly renewal (pre S&OP)

  • Accountable for setting up and leading a robust monthly review process (pre S&OP) that validates there is a feasible and optimal supply plan vs. the agreed design based on the latest view of demand (as in APO on WD11).
  • Accountable to ensure they have the right information / internal sign offs to validate the plan and this is visible in APO.

3) Monthly PS&OP

  • The Asset Planner plays a key role in the monthly PS&OP and is accountable for representing iPR site / assets in the monthly Product S&OP meetings.

4) Inventory Management and Forecasting


a. Inventory Actuals 6 Accountable Portfolio

  • Accountable for variance analysis of inventory Actuals vs Phased Budget / RBU / ABU, reported through Days Cover, Stock Tolerance and Statutory reporting, providing commentary and Root Cause Analysis.
  • Accountable portfolio includes VMI Finished Packs in Market as well as site inventory.

b. Phased Budget / ABU / RBU / Business Plan submission

  • Accountable to provide Inventory forecast volumes / Days Cover / Lead times for all site Inventory, and VMI Managed Finished Pack in Market, driven through SMT & Bulk sizing.
  • Accountable to validate site planning parameters for all CMI finished packs in Market.
  • Accountable for providing production volumes and site Capacity planning data in line with Global standards / timelines / formats.

c. Short dated, slow moving or unusable inventory.

5) Supply chain analytics as required in support of overall SP PET accountabilities.

6) Master Data Management

  • Keep the data aligned to the Global standard format to maintain integrity
    and accuracy for relevant master data for the assigned assets and
    associated products.

7) Toll Supply

8) Aligned to Global Scheduler Role

  • Work in collaboration with the regional/global planners and local PET to create a short to midterm (0 - 3 months 6 weekly buckets) site capacity plan ensuring product demands according to the tactical end to end supply plan can be met. If the supply and demand plans cannot be balanced due to unplanned events or supply exceptions the Asset planner is accountable for the development of local options and execution of supply solutions and communicating the associated risks.

9) Provide support Customer Liaison Partner role in areas included but not limited to:

  • Maintain Integrated Supply Chain Logistic informed of key supply issues or deviations that may affect the shipping plans.
  • Prepares and communicates monthly Key Performance Indicators
  • Coordinate the supply points Supply and Demand meetings, and is technically prepared to understand and interpret all the information presented in the meetings.
  • Monitors inventory levels as per stock policies according to the weeks of
    cover.
  • Executes supply/ distribution planning activities under the agreed supply
    methodology (e.g. Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI).
  • Prepares, updates and shares Distribution calendar for domestic and
    international supply.

10) Represent Site Super User

11) Key additional responsibilities:

  • Support on special warehouse and logistics assignments which may include functions related to: receipt, storage and control of all materials inventory, outsource warehouse service, in/outbound shipments, regulated processes i.e. Foreign Trade Zone Administration, US Customs and other GMP Regulatory agencies.
  • Support on day-to-day coordination of Planning activities ensuring optimum use of resources and fulfilling dynamic Customer requirements.

Minimum Requirements:

  • Bachelor6s Degree in Logistics, Business Administration or related discipline
  • 10 years professional work experience with a minimum 5-7 years in Supply Chain Environment (Manufacturing, Planning)
  • Customer-focused mindset, with strong interpersonal and communications skills
  • Adept at working cross-functionally in a collaborative manner, and influencing stakeholders within a global supply chain
  • Drives accountability in others based on their roles and functional alignment
  • Advanced supply chain (capacity and inventory) planning skills
  • SAP APO and ECC expertise, preferably with implementation experience
  • Experience in managing and developing solutions for supply chain events
  • Understanding of different supply methods (IRL, VMI/CMI, Flow, Kanban)
  • Understanding of supply chain planning parameters, master data and master data integrity & quality

Language Skills: Fully bilingual (English and Spanish)


Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: APICS preferably

Preferred Background:

  • Advance degree preferred
  • APICS certification
  • Background in pharmaceutical supply and manufacturing processes, understanding of the supply chain and fulfillment competency
  • Experience working in a LEAN manufacturing environment
  • Experience in participating in the S&OP process
  • Commercial experience is a plus

Date Posted

01-Jun-2026

Closing Date

06-Jun-2026

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical company that specializes in the research, development, and manufacturing of prescription drugs. The company was formed in 1999 through the merger of Astra AB and Zeneca Group plc. AstraZeneca's products are used to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes. The company has operations in over 100 countries and employs more than 76,000 people worldwide. AstraZeneca is committed to developing innovative medicines that improve the health and well-being of people around the world.
Learn more about AstraZeneca
Size
83,100 employees
Market Cap
$211.5 billion
Industry
Net Income
$3.1 billion
Founded
1999
5 Year Trend
+10.2%
Revenue
$26.6 billion
NASDAQ

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