Sr. Buyer, Planner

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for assigned commodities or product lines.
• Identify, evaluate, and negotiate with suppliers to secure optimal pricing, quality, and delivery terms.
• Manage supplier performance through scorecards, business reviews, and corrective action plans.
• Maintain strong relationships with key vendors and identify opportunities for consolidation or improvement.
• Monitor and ensure that NDAs and Supplier Agreements are up-to-date and align with business requirements.
• Manage the placement of all expense purchase orders for the company.
• Coordinate purchase requisitions with requestors to ensure purchase orders are placed in a timely fashion.
• Issue and administer purchase orders to suppliers in support of customer commitments (direct material and services).
• Track purchase order acknowledgements, identify and report shortages, and provide timely visibility to internal customers of potential interruptions for all products and services.
• Manage ERP/MRP parameters (such as lead times, safety stock levels, order quantities) using PFEP data to balance inventory targets with production demand.
• Create and maintain production plans and material requirements using MRP/ERP systems.
• Manage build requirement plans via job orders and work closely with Production/Operations to ensure planned deliveries are met.
• Manage and reconcile open job orders within the ERP systems, working with manufacturing personnel to bring them to closure.
• Balance inventory levels to support demand while minimizing excess and obsolescence.
• Analyze forecast accuracy and collaborate with Sales, Operations, and Finance to adjust plans.
• Monitor lead times, safety stock, and reorder points to ensure uninterrupted supply.
• Manage Non-Conformance process, working closely with Quality and Production personnel to ensure all non-conformances are identified and dispositioned in a timely manner with suppliers.
• Ensure purchase orders are accurate and reconciled expediently for any non-conformances identified in Receiving and/or Finance.
• Routinely verify and update supplier lead-times and committed delivery dates.
• Work with Operations to develop and support routings and product costing within the ERP system.
• Facilitate First Article Inspections working with cross-functional teams to ensure material is approved and available for production.
• Collaborate with Quality and Operations teams to enable and support outsourcing & insourcing initiatives.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, and Operations to support new product introductions & changes.
• Coordinate with other departments to manage non-inventory procurement using Kanban system.
• Coordinate with Warehouse to resolve delivery issues and optimize inbound freight.
• Support Finance with cost analysis, budgeting, and inventory valuation activities.
• Track KPIs such as on-time delivery, inventory turns, supplier performance, PPV, and cost savings.
• Prepare reports and present insights to leadership to support decision-making.
• Use data to identify risks, bottlenecks, and opportunities for cost reduction & process improvement.
• Coordinate inventory cycle counts per company Cycle Count SOP.
• Identify and maintain End of Life (EOL) component listing with monthly meetings to ensure discontinued components are being addressed.
• Perform other special projects and tasks as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, or other related discipline preferred.
• 5 years of procurement, inventory management, and production control experience, preferably in a medical device environment with a working knowledge of FDA good manufacturing practice (GMP) requirements and ISO13485.
• Experience in a medical device environment is a plus.

Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with ERP systems and MS Office Suite.
• Proficiency in managing and interpreting data using MS Excel.
• Strong negotiation skills with suppliers.
• Results-driven with a continuous improvement and cost reduction mindset.
• Good attention to detail.
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Ability to multi-task and manage time effectively.

Physical and Cognitive Demands

• Complete all company-required training that is specified for the role, as defined by compliance and training processes and protocols, which may be job-specific or corporate/compliance-related.
• Listen and communicate using both verbal and written feedback; must be able to exchange accurate information.
• Maintain a high level of consistent cognitive function.
• Perform consistent keyboarding/computer use in a typical office environment for extended periods of time, up to 8 hours per day.
• Frequently move about the office; stoop, kneel, or crouch when maneuvering the office environment.
• Perform work in a manufacturing and/or research laboratory environment as needed, up to 8 hours per day.
• Maintain a valid US Driver’s License with sufficient documentation required for travel within the US.
• Drive a vehicle and/or use other travel means as needed when traveling for company business.
• Lift up to 50 lbs at times.
• Position is primarily based out of the company headquarters in Durham, NC; may involve travel to vendor sites in North America as needed.