As a part of the Global Supply Chain Organization, this position will be responsible for developing weekly control reports that demonstrate the performance of processes, gaps and deliverables.
This role will lead purchasing of finished goods for Grace USA facilities sourced from Grace locations outside of the USA, with the primary destinations being warehouses in Baltimore (Cabot), Houston, and to some extent in Chicago (an externally managed facility) and the main goal for this role would be accurate of the purchasing orders, ensuring that purchasing orders arrived in time for customer order commitments, and communicate where there will be delayed orders timely and actively support in resolving, while maintaining/improving SOPs and processes.
The Import Controller will partner with business stakeholders and the product management team to drive a reliable supply plan that satisfies NA demand for imported materials.
The position requires discipline to execute the activities.
The strategic contributions of this role include a strong understanding of Material Requirement Planning and Import Management and the ability to identify opportunities to improve inventory management.
This role involves determining when Interco PO’s of finished goods (primarily for Grace’s MT business but also for some Specialty Catalyst items) need to be placed with Sourced Grace Plants (primarily Worms, Germany and Sorocaba, Brazil) and coordinating updates to the POs process to ensure inventory levels that prevent stockouts and overstock situations.
This role will be responsible for SAP MRP Master Date maintenance - Keep Master Data parameters of sourced finished good updated / accurate in SAP MDG (Make to Stock or Make to Order, Purchasing Lead Time, Safety Stock, GR Process timing and other relevant parameters).
Proceduralize the Process: Create SOP and Work Instructions and keep them updated.
On weekly or daily basis (when applicable) the Import Controller will run reports in SAP system and when needed will execute the purchasing of sourced finished good, converting order proposals into PO´s, with the process taking into consideration information available in the system (current inventory, open sales orders, forecast, open Interco PO, Lead Time of Sourced Finished Goods) and information (dates) should be “accurate”.
The Import Controller should not blindly follow what the system recommends. Rather this role’s responsibilities include evaluation of order recommendations to confirm that they make sense, making analyses, questioning when not sure, and contacting your immediate manager or relevant co-workers for clarification and confirmation.
MRP should guide the identification of purchase orders requiring earlier delivery via exception message monitoring.
Import Controller will adjust/modify PO´s when required (forecast change, late shipments, etc.)
Proactively Import Controller must make follow ups with Sourced Plant contacts, reach out them to check if all is okay with shipments.
Import Controller will be tracking purchase orders with support of exporting entity (Worms and Sorocaba) and with Import Broker (currently DSV) and will flag when issue, and needs has confidence to question – system, production (Worms) etc. – when there are concerns that need to be addressed.
Import Controller will also be monitoring shipments throughout arrival at destination by utilizing Grace’s P44 subscription. This is an AI enabled tool that consolidates information from multiple shipping companies in one place and provides alerts when information changes or if AI algorithms believe carrier information is expected to be inaccurate.
Import Controller will work with all stakeholders in interco process to be aware about Real arrival of Interco PO in Destination Ports, to know the status of brokerage customs process, the estimated arrival at Warehouses and finally the real arrival at Primary Destinations (Cabot, Houston, some NADC) to ensure that inventory will be available to complete the shipment to end customers when needed.
Always when needed, Import Controller will coordinate with regional forwarding team to expedite shipments, including direct shipments to customers and air freighting of material as needed. Also, will coordinate with freight forwarder (DSV) & drayage provider to expedite release and drayage of containers upon arrival to port always when needed.
Every time that Customers communicate that need to receive product with urgency, that is going to shut down, the Import Controller will notify the Freight Forward (DSV) and Drayage (Gardner Logistics) that Container # needs to be marked Hot and expedited off the vessel and by doing so, the unloading and drayage to NA Warehouses is generally shortened.
Import Controller will work closely with Supply Planners and communicate effectively with them to resolve any issues related to material supply.
Education
- Bachelor´s degree in Administration, and preferable but not essential to be a technologist in marketing and sales or related professions, with training in customer service, logistics, foreign trade.
- Advanced English level - written / listening / speaking
- SAP experience – Good SAP skill (SD, MM, PP)
- Good Microsoft Office skills (Excel, Word)
Experience
Minimum 2 years in Import Controller, Purchasing Planner. Import Planner, Customer Service or similar positions within the industry and logistical duties.
Experience and/or training in logistic, foreign trade, Purchasing Planning.
Work LocationWork Location: Sorocaba/SP