Supply Chain Material Forecaster

Title: Supply Chain Material Forecaster

Type: 6+ Month Contract

Location: Cambridge - Hybrid

Clearance: Active Secret

Supply Chain Material Forecaster

The Supply Chain Material Forecaster is responsible for planning, managing, and executing material requirements to support production and program objectives. This role ensures appropriate quantities of materials, components, and finished goods are available in alignment with the Bill of Materials (BOM), budget, cost model, and production schedules. The position serves as a cross-functional liaison, collaborating with internal teams and suppliers to maintain a cost-effective and reliable supply chain while ensuring data accuracy and providing insights to leadership.
Responsibilities

• Use Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems (such as Oracle) to manage forecasts, inventory levels, and production schedules.
• Prepare and deliver detailed reports on material forecasts, including actual usage and open commitments, supporting estimates to complete (ETC) within agreed accuracy thresholds.
• Develop and evaluate material proposals in response to Requests for Proposal (RFPs), including cost estimation, BOM validation, and supplier quote collection.
• Create and maintain material plans, forecasts, and schedules to meet operational and production requirements.
• Partner with Supply Chain to analyze material costs and identify opportunities for cost savings, including bulk purchasing and supplier negotiations, and provide actionable recommendations.
• Engage with suppliers to gather data supporting forecast accuracy and material planning.
• Monitor forecast performance by analyzing variances between actual and projected values and implement continuous improvement measures.
• Identify risks and opportunities affecting material supply and develop mitigation strategies to meet program and supply chain targets.
• Participate in regular planning reviews and prepare data-driven presentations for executive leadership team discussions.
• Analyze inventory levels and product demand to determine production and procurement needs.
• Investigate drivers of forecast variance, present findings, and implement strategies to reduce future forecasting errors.
• Use historical data, production trends, and statistical methods to generate accurate forecasts.
• Develop and present data analyses to support inventory optimization and demand planning objectives.
• Continuously update forecasts based on evolving project requirements, production changes, and market conditions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in government contracting, material management, supply chain, operations, or a related discipline.
• Familiarity with government procurement regulations, including FAR, DFARS, ITAR, and EAR.
• Understanding of contract structures, including Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs).
• Foundational knowledge of accounting principles.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data sets and generate actionable insights.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications, particularly Excel (including functions such as VLOOKUP and pivot tables), and experience with MRP/ERP systems (PeopleSoft preferred).
• Knowledge of supply chain management principles and inventory control best practices.
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills, with the ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to effectively work across finance, manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain teams.
• Experience in manufacturing or a related industry is preferred.