Lead Material Planner

About the Role and Team

The Central Planning division at Ather Energy manages comprehensive material requirement planning, drives the transformation towards lean and agile supply chains, focuses on expanding capacities, optimizes inventory, and supervises service spares to support rapid scaling of the organization. The Lead Material Planner will spearhead the design and implementation of material flow strategies, lead and develop high-performing planning teams, and take full responsibility for end-to-end Material Requirement Planning (MRP) along with inventory lifecycle management policies.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and promote Lean and Agile supply chain methodologies to eliminate inefficiencies, shorten lead times, and create a responsive material flow ecosystem.
• Integrate World Class Manufacturing principles and advanced Industry 4.0 technologies, including IoT tracking, digital monitoring dashboards, and automated workflow systems to build a zero-defect intelligent supply chain.
• Lead and mentor a talented team of Material and Production Planners, encouraging accountability and continuous professional development.
• Own the comprehensive MRP process lifecycle, working closely with sourcing teams to ensure plan accuracy, process stability, and agility in execution.
• Maintain detailed visibility of part-level capacity and proactively align supplier capabilities to accommodate rapid expansion and diversification of the product portfolio.
• Develop and execute lifecycle inventory management strategies, focusing on active parts, minimizing excess and obsolete stock, and planning from prototype and new product introduction stages.
• Lead forecasting, predictive analytics, and strategic management of service spares through dedicated warehousing solutions to maximize vehicle uptime.
• Take full accountability for inventory financial metrics including turnover ratios, aggressively reducing excess and obsolete inventory and limiting financial exposure.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Industrial, Automobile, Production, or Mechanical Engineering; an MBA with operations or supply chain specialization from a Tier-1 institute or certifications such as APICS or Lean Six Sigma are preferred.
• 12 to 16 years of progressive experience in leadership roles relating to material planning, production control, inventory management, and sales & operations planning within automotive, electric vehicle, or fast-growing manufacturing sectors.

Essential Skills and Competencies

• Expertise in enterprise MRP and planning systems, notably SAP MM/PP modules and advanced planning tools like SAP IBP or APO.
• Proven ability to implement World Class Manufacturing standards and Industry 4.0 innovations such as IoT-enabled tracking, digital twins, and automated replenishment processes.
• Strong experience applying Lean and Agile methodologies to optimize supply chain velocity and handle demand variability effectively.
• Comprehensive knowledge of lifecycle and spares inventory optimization, managing from prototype phases to large-scale manufacturing while focusing on spare parts forecasting and minimizing obsolete inventory.

Desirable Additional Competencies

• Proficiency in advanced supply chain analytics and predictive modeling for accurate spare parts demand forecasting.
• Experience with high-volume production environments, capacity planning, and aligning supplier capabilities with rapid product expansion.
• Familiarity with smart warehousing, automated material workflows, and digital inventory tracking solutions.
• Integration of Sales & Operations Planning processes with supplier capacity planning in dynamic, fast-growing manufacturing contexts.

Company Overview

Ather Energy is pioneering India’s first intelligent electric scooter series, including models like Ather 450X, 450S, 450 Apex, and Rizta. Aligned with its vision of clean design and smart tech, Ather is revolutionizing urban commuting while expanding operations and aiming for global product launches. The company also invests in infrastructure such as an extensive charging network and enhanced ownership experiences.

Equality and Inclusion

Ather Energy is committed to fostering a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, recognizing and celebrating differences among its employees. It is an equal opportunity employer promoting a culture of belonging and shared passion.