Senior Global Buyer Planner

About the role

Average work week: Monday-Friday, with in-person attendance on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Remote work on Mondays and Fridays.

Responsibilities

• Own demand-driven supply planning for finished goods across multiple global manufacturing locations.
• Monitor demand variability and adjust supply, capacity, and inventory strategies accordingly.
• Develop, monitor, and optimize inventory strategies to support service level, turns, and scrap reduction objectives.
• Manage shortages, back orders, and expedites to meet customer commitments.
• Plan and execute smooth part number changes, product transitions, and end-of-life activities to minimize excess and obsolescence.
• Implement and maintain planning parameters such as safety stock, lead times, and lot sizing.
• Develop and execute procurement strategies aligned with global sourcing and business objectives.
• Manage daily communication with suppliers and serve as the primary escalation point for supply issues.
• Build strong supplier partnerships and lead performance discussions focused on on-time delivery, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct monthly supplier delivery performance evaluations and drive corrective actions as needed.
• Support global capacity planning, including planning around extended production shutdowns such as Lunar New Year.
• Maintain data integrity and planning parameters within MRP and ERP systems, including Oracle and ePortal.
• Analyze inventory levels, aging, expirations, and turnover to proactively reduce scrap risk.
• Provide input to Finance on scrap exposure and inventory reserve considerations.
• Regularly review planning and fulfillment reports and take action to resolve gaps or risks.
• Leverage advanced analytics, automation, and emerging AI-enabled tools to enhance planning accuracy, improve data quality, and support data-driven supply and procurement decisions.
• Partner with Sales, Sales Operations, Marketing, Operations, and Finance to align demand, supply, and inventory plans.
• Support New Product Development planning and launch readiness.
• Manage Direct-to-Consumer inventory planning when assigned.
• Balance long-term planning with near-term execution in a role that is approximately 30% strategic and 70% tactical.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 8+ years of combined experience across purchasing, planning, inventory management, operations, logistics, quality, or manufacturing.
• Strong working knowledge of MRP and ERP systems.
• Experience planning across multiple manufacturing lines and locations.
• Capacity planning and supply constraint experience required.
• Strong understanding of supply planning, procurement, and inventory management within a global manufacturing environment.
• Ability to analyze complex data, identify trends and risks, and make sound, data-driven decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and execute effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional partners and external suppliers without direct authority.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to balance long-term planning objectives and short-term execution needs.
• Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to adjust plans in response to changing demand, supply, or business conditions.
• Experience working with advanced planning tools, analytics, or AI-enabled systems, or a demonstrated willingness to learn and apply AI and automation tools to improve planning, procurement, and decision-making processes.

Qualifications

• Asia-based or offshore manufacturing experience preferred.
• New Product Development planning experience preferred.
• Professional certification such as APICS CPIM, CSCP, or CPSM is a plus.