Buyer/Planner

About the role

We are seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Buyer-Planner to join our team, reporting to the Planning Manager. In this role, you will ensure the efficient and timely delivery of raw materials and production of our goods, focusing on flexible packaging used in our finished products. You will collaborate with manufacturing, quality, sales, sourcing, product, and distribution teams to develop and execute plans that meet customer demand while optimizing resources and minimizing costs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain delivery and supply plans for flexible packaging materials based on customer demand, sales forecasts, and inventory levels.
• Coordinate with planning, sourcing, inventory control, quality, and operations teams to ensure accurate and up-to-date supply information.
• Review, issue, and process purchase orders, ensuring accuracy and feasibility while identifying the most cost-effective options.
• Collaborate with Production Scheduling to align material supply with production demands.
• Monitor for potential shortages or supply disruptions and escalate issues promptly to ensure uninterrupted production.
• Own purchase order management in our ERP system, ensuring delivery dates, quantities, and other relevant information are updated accurately and promptly.
• Collaborate with the Sourcing team on key initiatives, including annual budgets, supplier selection, contract management, cost reduction, and new product development projects.
• Evaluate supplier and production capacity to determine feasibility of meeting demand; identify bottlenecks and propose solutions to optimize efficiency.
• Partner with the Product team to develop timelines and execute packaging and CoMan transitions to minimize disruption and cost impact.
• Coordinate with suppliers to ensure adherence to delivery schedules, quality requirements, and pricing; track KPIs and address deviations or delays.
• Work with Product and Engineering Teams to schedule trials and ensure quality protocols align with bag specifications.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and cost savings within procurement; collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement changes.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and quality standards; collaborate with quality control and regulatory teams to address issues.
• Set up quality and service scorecards and conduct regular supplier reviews.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in operations management, supply chain management, finance, information systems, or a related field. Relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum of 3 years of purchasing experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience working directly with suppliers and managing packaging supplies, especially flexible packaging, is strongly preferred.
• Solid understanding of procurement processes and multi-site inventory management.
• Ability to read and interpret technical packaging specifications preferred.
• Experience using a major ERP system in a purchasing role (e.g., Microsoft D365, SAP).
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel for data analysis and transformation.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a track record of developing positive internal and external relationships.
• Highly detail-oriented with strong statistical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills for cross-functional teamwork.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Project management experience preferred.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven self-starter with a track record of identifying challenges, developing solutions, and optimizing processes with minimal supervision.

Requirements

• Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including occasional weekend time if needed.
• Occasional warehouse or vendor visits may be required.