Buyer Planner

Job Title: Buyer PlannerJob Description

This Buyer Planner role supports a manufacturing facility in the Grafton, WI area by managing end-to-end supply and materials planning. You will align demand with production, coordinate with suppliers, and ensure materials are available to meet production schedules while maintaining optimal inventory levels. This position combines purchasing, production planning, and data-driven analysis to support efficient, cost-effective operations.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end supply planning activities, including demand alignment, production planning, and supplier coordination for a manufacturing environment.

• Execute purchasing of raw materials, components, and services to support production and manufacturing schedules.

• Develop, maintain, and adjust MRP plans to ensure optimal inventory levels while minimizing stockouts and excess inventory.

• Collaborate closely with production, engineering, logistics, and operations teams to align material availability with production needs and schedules.

• Monitor supplier performance, including on-time in-full (OTIF), lead times, and quality, and drive continuous improvement initiatives with vendors.

• Analyze forecasts and historical usage data to support demand planning and capacity planning efforts.

• Maintain accurate ERP system data, including bills of materials (BOMs), lead times, safety stock levels, and order quantities.

• Expedite and de-expedite material orders as needed to respond to changes in production schedules and customer requirements.

• Identify and support cost savings opportunities through strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and inventory optimization.

• Support new product introductions by coordinating material readiness, supplier onboarding, and timely availability of components.

• Generate and maintain reports on inventory levels, shortages, purchasing metrics, and planning performance for leadership visibility.

• Perform data entry and maintain accurate records related to purchasing, production planning, and inventory management.

• Coordinate schedule planning and production scheduling activities to ensure alignment between material supply and manufacturing capacity.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

• At least 1 year of experience in production planning, scheduling, or supply chain within a manufacturing environment.

• Experience in high-volume or automotive manufacturing is strongly preferred.

• Hands-on experience with production planning, production scheduling, and materials planning in a manufacturing setting.

• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or similar enterprise resource planning tools.

• Practical experience in procurement, buyer purchasing, and purchasing activities for raw materials and components.

• Strong inventory management skills, including managing safety stock, order quantities, and stock level optimization.

• Ability to perform schedule planning and planning/scheduling tasks to align supply with demand.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high level of attention to detail.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt quickly to changing demands and production requirements.

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including production, engineering, logistics, and operations.

• Comfort with data entry and maintaining accurate records in ERP systems.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in a high-volume manufacturing environment, ideally within automotive or similar industries.

• Familiarity with logistics coordination related to inbound materials and production support.

• Exposure to strategic sourcing and supplier negotiations to achieve cost savings and improve supply performance.

• Experience monitoring supplier performance metrics such as OTIF, lead times, and quality, and implementing improvement initiatives.

• Background in supporting new product introductions from a materials planning and supplier readiness perspective.

• Ability to interpret and act on demand forecasts and historical usage data for capacity and demand planning.

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, production-driven environment.

Work Environment

This role operates within a manufacturing environment in the Grafton, WI area, supporting high-volume production activities. You will work closely with production, engineering, logistics, and operations teams and will spend most of your time working with ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or similar tools to manage materials, schedules, and inventory data. The position involves regular interaction with suppliers and internal stakeholders, frequent use of computer-based planning and reporting tools, and a focus on meeting production timelines and operational goals in a dynamic setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Grafton, WI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $31.00 - $35.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Grafton,WI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 23, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io (%View email address on click.appcast.io) for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.