Subcontract Buyer/Planner

About the role

This role exists to keep subcontracted work and purchased inventory moving on schedule once a project or commitment has been placed. It calls for close, cross-functional collaboration—with internal project teams, engineering, quality, and other stakeholders—to hold subcontractors accountable to scope, quality, and delivery timelines, and to resolve issues before they reach the customer.

Responsibilities

The Subcontract Buyer/Planner will have two main areas of focus: Subcontract Management and Material & Supply Planning.

Subcontract Management responsibilities include:

• Serving as the critical link between internal project management and external trade vendors, owning subcontracted projects through completion once subcontractors have been sourced and secured by internal sourcing agents.
• Working closely with internal sourcing agents throughout the subcontract lifecycle to ensure a smooth handoff and continued alignment on subcontractor performance, scope changes, and vendor relationship management.
• Monitoring subcontractor performance, quality, and on-time delivery; managing capacity constraints and reallocate work across subcontractors as needed; coordinating with engineering and quality on specifications and compliance requirements.
• Owning the day-to-day tactical relationship with subcontractors, holding them accountable to contractual scope, quality standards, and delivery timelines while efficiently managing the assigned group of items and suppliers.
• Proactively identifying and resolving discrepancies related to cost, delivery, quantity, and invoicing.
• Identifying and implementing continuous improvement opportunities within subcontract management and administration processes.

Material & Supply Planning responsibilities include:

• Using available inventory replenishment methods and practices to ensure minimum SLOB (slow/obsolete) and scrap inventory and maximum availability of inventory for active items.
• Demonstrating successful experience in Kanban; knowing how to establish safety stock positions, best stocking locations, and Kanban lot sizes.
• Developing and managing the various databases needed to ensure systems work smoothly, including Kanban, MRP, Wait-Work sheets, Safety Stock, BPCS/CIC/BPA, and Lead-times.
• Resolving problems and discrepancies with quality, delivery dates, quantity, and invoicing of purchased commodities using a 360-degree material planning approach.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree (4-yr) and/or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in Buying or Planning, Material Control, Subcontract Administration, or related fields.
• In-depth knowledge of ERP and/or material planning systems required (BPCS and/or M3).
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Strong analytical problem-solving ability.
• Good oral and written communication skills, with the ability to negotiate and hold subcontractors accountable to contractual commitments.

Qualifications

Preferred qualifications include:

• Completed or working towards Master's Degree or Supply Chain Certification.
• Six Sigma trained or certified (Black or Green Belt).