Planner Lead

Role Overview fl? Optics is a fast-moving startup developing breakthrough digital printing technology for optical lens coatings. As we scale our operations toward first-unit manufacturing, we are looking for a Planner to join our team. The planner will own assembly planning, material availability, and planning/inventory processes within the Priority ERP system, working closely with Purchasing, Engineering, R&D and Warehouse, and reporting to the Supply Chain Manager. This role is central to building disciplined, scalable planning processes as the company grows. Key Responsibilities:
*  Own and operate the planning activities in the company- item records, Bills of Materials (BOM), work orders, and purchase requisitions
*  Build and implement MRP processes from the ground up, translating the production plan into timely purchasing requirements based on demand, inventory levels, and supplier lead times.
*  Track and manage material availability with suppliers, including early shortage identification and proactive escalation
*  Manage inventory - stock levels, safety stock, ABC/XYZ classification, prevention of excess and shortages, and support for cycle counts
*  Produce regular planning reports: OTD, material availability, critical shortages, work order and PO status, and dead/excess stock
*  Build planning KPIs (Schedule Adherence, Material Availability Rate, Inventory Turns, Forecast Accuracy)
*  Coordinate routinely with Purchasing, Engineering & Production on engineering changes (ECO) and their impact on planning and inventory
*  Support the S&OP process and medium-term production planning, including capacity planning scenarios ahead of the 2027 ramp-up
*  Continuously improve planning and inventory data integrity in the ERP system, and help build structured planning procedures for a start-up/scale-up environment