Buyer / Planner

Job Description

Job Description

All job requirements listed are requirements for the core responsibilities of this position. This position may require other activities and duties be performed as assigned by their manager.

• Proactively manage sourcing activities, including vendor selection, savings, and risk mitigation.
• Primarily focus on direct materials but also support indirect purchasing, as required.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with supply base.
• Develop and apply supplier scorecard methodology, establishing a cadence for business reviews.
• Liaise with Engineering and Project teams to support new product development and introductions. Where appropriate, develop the procurement strategy for each project.
• Collaboratively perform make/buy analysis to guide sound insourcing/outsourcing decisions.
• Collate specifications and technical and quality requirements to produce detailed RFQs.
• Research and evaluate suppliers based on various criteria, including price, quality, service, support, availability, reliability, capabilities, capacities, reputation and history.
• Expand RFQ process to ensure relevant stakeholder, technical, and end-user reviews are incorporated, and recorded in the review and decision-making process.
• Assist in identifying and qualifying new supply sources, ensuring appropriate due diligence.
• Negotiate terms and conditions.
• Coordinate contract milestones, drawings, documentation, and deliverables (e.g., first-article testing and acceptance events).
• Develop risk mitigation strategies for: critical supplier performance, strategic safety stock levels, redundant suppliers, and tooling.
• Evaluate and monitor contract performance following placement to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and to determine need for changes.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

• BS/BA in Business, or related field required.
• Prior experience performing make/buy decisions that shaped supply chain strategy and produced demonstrated customer service improvements.
• Procurement experience with plant equipment, machinery, and capital expenditures.
• Experience in: project purchasing, contract negotiation and execution, and risk management.

Knowledge/Skills

• Must be able to work effectively under tight time constraints.
• Participate in production and daily management meetings.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite, including Outlook, Excel, and Word. Power BI and SQL ability is a plus
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Consistently operates at the highest level of integrity never compromises the team’s ethical standards.
• Demonstrated strong analytical skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving, leveraging data-driven insights to identify root causes, streamline processes, and support strategic decision-making.

Physical Requirements

Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer. · Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times. Use of hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls. Understand the speech of another person, speaks clearly so listeners can understand and sees details of objects that are less than a few feet away.

Working Conditions

This job operates in a clerical, office setting. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.