Buyer/Planner

Description

Material Planning & Inventory Analysis

· Review daily MRP suggestions in ERP and determine appropriate purchasing actions.

· Analyze on-hand inventory, open purchase orders, and allocated demand to identify shortages, risks, and excess inventory.

· Validate demand against production schedules and priority orders.

· Maintain accurate supplier lead times and order policies in ERP.

· Identify inventory imbalances (overstock or potential stockouts) and communicate corrective actions.

Purchase Order Execution

· Create, release, and maintain purchase orders in Dynamics 365 (or equivalent ERP).

· Ensure accurate pricing, quantities, due dates, and supplier confirmations.

· Monitor open purchase orders and follow up on late or at-risk deliveries.

· Expedite critical shortages and escalate when necessary.

· Maintain clean and accurate PO records within ERP.

· Supplier Communication & Coordination

· Communicate forecasted demand and upcoming requirements to suppliers.

· Confirm delivery schedules and update ERP accordingly.

· Resolve discrepancies related to shipments, invoices, or confirmations.

· Support supplier performance tracking related to on-time delivery and responsiveness.

· Reporting & Continuous Monitoring

· Utilize Excel to analyze purchasing data and inventory conditions.

· Build and maintain simple working tables to track shortages, open orders, and coverage.

· Support weekly reporting of material status and risk areas.

· Participate in cycle counts and assist with inventory accuracy investigations.

· Inventory Control Support

· Assist with cycle counts and physical inventory activities.

· Investigate root causes of inventory discrepancies.

· Collaborate with production and warehouse teams to ensure inventory integrity.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

· High School Diploma or equivalent (associate or bachelor’s degree preferred).

· 3–5 years of experience in Purchasing, Planning, or Buyer/Planner role.

· ERP experience required (Dynamics 365 preferred).

· Practical Excel proficiency required:

· Build tables

· Use filters and sorting

· Basic formulas (SUM, IF, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP preferred)

· Ability to analyze inventory conditions logically

· Strong understanding of inventory concepts (on-hand, lead time, safety stock, allocations).

· Experience interacting directly with suppliers.

· Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.

· Ability to prioritize in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

· Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

· Experience in a manufacturing environment.

· Prior MRP-based planning experience.

· Experience with Dynamics 365.

· Exposure to inventory control processes and cycle counting.

Core Competencies

· Analytical thinking

· ERP transactional accuracy

· Supplier coordination

· Inventory risk awareness

· Problem-solving

· Accountability