Buyer Planner

What You'll Do

• Sources and purchases materials, components, equipment, and services to support production requirements.
• Negotiates pricing, delivery schedules, and supplier agreements to maximize value and efficiency.
• Creates, issues, and manages purchase orders while maintaining accurate records in ERP and purchasing systems.
• Maintains supplier performance, including quality, responsiveness, and on-time delivery.
• Pairs with Engineering, Production, Quality, and other internal teams to align purchasing activities with business needs.
• Tracks and analyzes purchasing metrics, supplier performance, inventory levels, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Identifies, evaluates, and qualifies new suppliers to support business growth and continuity.
• Supports inventory management goals by helping maintain optimal stock levels and reducing shortages or excess inventory.
• Ensures compliance with procurement policies, quality standards, and applicable regulations.
• Aids with additional purchasing and supply chain initiatives as needed.

Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain operations, preferably within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Experience working with ERP or purchasing systems such as SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, IFS, or similar platforms.
• Strong negotiation skills with a proven ability to secure favorable supplier terms and pricing.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities in a deadline-driven environment.
• High attention to detail, strong problem-solving capabilities, and a sense of urgency.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 or other quality management standards is a plus.

Preferred

• CPM (Certified Purchasing Manager) or CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management) certification.
• Experience working with international suppliers and import/export processes.
• Knowledge of manufacturing materials, components, and industrial supplies.
• Experience using IFS or similar MRP systems.
• Exposure to ISO 9001 and related quality documentation practices.
• Demonstrated success building strong supplier and cross-functional relationships.

About the Role

The ideal candidate is a strong communicator, skilled negotiator, and analytical problem-solver who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. If you enjoy building supplier relationships, managing purchasing activities, and contributing to supply chain success, we encourage you to apply.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Minneapolis, MN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $31.25 - $40.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 9, 2026.