Direct RM Buyer-Planner
About the role
BGF Industries is a leading U.S. manufacturer of innovative technical fiber materials used worldwide in various industries. This role is located in Danville, VA.
Key Responsibilities / Major Duties
Oversight of procurement and timely delivery of all direct raw materials needed for production and subcontracted processes.
Development and implementation of optimized supply plans based on demand forecasts, customer orders, MPS, and S&OP outputs.
Placement and follow-up on purchase orders and replenishment requests, from issuance to delivery.
Record and manage purchase order confirmations in the ERP system (e.g., M3).
Ensuring that planning data, material parameters, supplier setup, lead times, and item definitions are correctly configured in ERP systems to support accurate planning.
Definition, review, and maintenance of raw material inventory policies (safety stock, reorder points, lot sizes) for optimal balance of service and cost.
Monitoring inventory levels (raw materials, in-transit, consignment) to ensure availability without overstocking.
Management of consignment stock relationships and consumption declarations.
Proactive identification of risks of stockouts, overstocks, obsolete inventory, and creation of mitigation plans.
Implementation of alerting, reporting, and analytics tools (SAS BI, dashboards, exception reports) to support decision-making.
Supplier & Performance Management: Monitoring and measuring supplier delivery performance (OTIF, lead time compliance), analyzing variances, and driving supplier improvement action plans.
Collaboration with suppliers to expedite, anticipate delays, adjust schedules, or negotiate alternate supply sources when needed.
Management of contract execution, compliance, and dispute resolution (e.g. invoices, quality issues) in liaison with Quality, Purchasing, and Controlling.
Supporting sourcing and supplier development initiatives: evaluation of new materials, suppliers, or processes to improve reliability, cost, quality, and continuity.
Cross-Functional Alignment & Risk Mitigation: Communication of supply constraints, schedule changes, or material issues upstream to production, planning, scheduling, and customer service teams.
Assessment of the impact of material delays on production/sales plans, proposal of alternate scenarios, and implementation of contingency actions.
Participation and contribution to S&OP, demand review, and supply review processes.
Resolution of material-related bottlenecks or constraints with manufacturing, scheduling, and procurement teams.
Generation and maintenance of key performance reports and dashboards: supplier OTIF, backlog, lead time compliance, inventory projections, deviations, inbound logistics cost, etc.
Conducting root-cause analysis on performance variances and driving corrective/preventive actions.
Leading or supporting continuous improvement initiatives in procurement, material planning, inventory optimization, supplier collaboration (e.g. VMI, Kanban, EDI).
Mentoring or managing junior planners, development of skill sets, and evaluation of performance (if role includes direct reports).
Required Competencies & Skills
Planning & Process Orientation: Structured, methodical, accurate in planning, ability to juggle multiple timelines and priorities.
Analytical & Problem Solving: Comfortable working with data, trends, statistical tools, scenario modeling.
Supplier Relationship & Negotiation: Ability to influence, negotiate, manage supplier relationships and performance metrics.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong communicator who can bridge procurement, operations, quality, logistics, and sales.
Adaptability & Initiative: Responds to change, drives improvement, takes ownership of challenges.
Continuous Improvement Mindset: Seeks process enhancements, automation, lean practices (VMI, Kanban, pull flow).
Leadership & Development: Ability to coach, mentor, and manage others.
Customer/Service Focus: Understands internal and external customer needs, maintains service commitments.
Education & Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, Business, or a related field (preferred).
5 to 10 years of experience in procurement, material planning, supply chain roles (direct materials preferred).
Strong background in manufacturing or industrial environments (e.g. composites, textiles, advanced materials).
Proficiency with ERP systems (Infor M3, SAP, or equivalent).
Experience with planning and procurement tools (EDI, forecast engines, BI reporting tools).
Familiarity with Lean, Kanban, pull flow, and inventory optimization techniques.
Certifications such as APICS CPIM, CPSM, or equivalent are a plus.
Experience handling supplier performance metrics, contract management, and cross-functional collaboration.
Why Work at BGF / Value Proposition
BGF is a leader in technical fiber and fabric materials, with over 35 patents and a broad global footprint. The role offers strategic impact—bridging procurement, manufacturing, and operations—and visibility into supply chain challenges in a technically sophisticated manufacturing environment. Opportunities include leading supplier performance improvement efforts, exploring new materials/suppliers, and influencing cost, quality, and cash flow outcomes. BGF values its employees, encourages learning, and fosters an inclusive, innovation-oriented culture. This position requires access to information or technology that is subject to U.S. export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Pursuant to these regulations, only U.S. Persons (U.S. Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents/Green Card holders) are eligible for this role. Proof of U.S. Person status will be required prior to employment.