Buyer / Planner

Job Description: The Buyer Planner plays a key role in supporting a stable manufacturing operation by combining purchasing and production planning responsibilities, with approximately 65% of the role focused on buying and 35% on planning. You will manage raw material and component purchases, plan and schedule production activities, and help balance workloads to support on‑time delivery and new machinery builds. This position offers broad exposure to planning, procurement, inventory management, and manufacturing operations, with strong training and development support and the opportunity to learn both buying and planning disciplines. Job Title Buyer Planner Responsibilities Purchase raw materials and components to support production and project needs. Manage supplier orders and maintain effective relationships with assigned suppliers. Create and process purchase orders in alignment with manufacturing requirements. Support day‑to‑day manufacturing needs by ensuring timely material availability. Run MRP to generate and review material and production requirements. Create demand requirements based on production plans and customer needs. Create, release, and maintain shop orders to support scheduled production activities. Schedule production activities to optimize capacity and support on‑time delivery goals. Manage inventory levels to balance material availability with cost and efficiency. Balance manufacturing workloads to support smooth production flow. Support R&D and new machinery builds by coordinating materials and production plans. Utilize the ERP system (currently IFS) to manage planning and purchasing activities. Run ERP‑based reports and dashboards to monitor supply chain and production performance. Maintain clear production planning visibility for cross‑functional teams. Support inventory and manufacturing metrics by providing accurate data and updates. Perform inventory management, including monitoring stock levels and usage. Execute demand planning activities to align supply with forecasted needs. Release and schedule shop orders in accordance with MRP and capacity plans. Purchase components and raw materials to support both ongoing production and special projects. Support R&D machinery projects by coordinating materials and schedules. Manage production flow and workload balancing to minimize bottlenecks. Contribute to achieving on‑time delivery goals through effective planning and purchasing. Work cross‑functionally with manufacturing and other teams to resolve issues and improve processes. Essential Skills Manufacturing experience, with the ability to work effectively in a production environment. Buying or purchasing experience, or production planning experience. ERP or MRP system experience, including running MRP and working with planning modules. Strong communication skills to collaborate with suppliers and cross‑functional teams. Ability to manage inventory levels and support demand planning and scheduling. Comfort using ERP systems such as IFS for purchasing, planning, and reporting. Proficiency with Excel for data analysis, reporting, and planning support. Ability to support both buying and planning activities and shift focus as needed. Degree preferred but not required; candidates with strong related experience will be considered regardless of degree. Additional Skills & Qualifications Experience in a Buyer Planner role or a combined planning and purchasing position. Inventory management experience, including monitoring stock levels and usage trends. Capacity planning experience to support balanced workloads and efficient production. Demand planning experience to align supply with forecasted requirements. IFS ERP experience or familiarity with other ERP platforms. Supply chain or operations background, particularly in a manufacturing setting. Strong Excel skills for reporting, dashboards, and data‑driven decision‑making. Open to candidates from any manufacturing industry. Open to candidates stronger in either buying or planning, with training provided in the other area. Willingness to learn and develop under a manager highly focused on training and professional growth. Recent graduates with 6 months to 1 year of relevant experience may be considered. Early‑career professionals seeking training and development in supply chain and planning may be considered. Work Environment This role is based in a production and manufacturing environment where high‑speed machines support can‑making operations. Production is onsite, which enhances collaboration and effectiveness in this role. The facility in Centennial is currently absorbing operations from another location, creating a dynamic environment with opportunities to support growth and consolidation activities. You will work within the Supply Chain organization, which currently consists of approximately 14 team members, including buyers and planners, and this position is an additional hire to support the workload. The organization emphasizes safety, quality, sustainability, technology, and customer satisfaction as core values, and it upholds high ethical standards and mutual respect in all interactions. The culture focuses on speed, quality, efficiency, and adding value for customers, with strong support for customers worldwide. The environment offers stable manufacturing operations, direct impact on production and machinery projects, and broad exposure to planning, procurement, inventory, and manufacturing processes. Benefits include a competitive benefits package, three weeks of vacation, and a 401(k) program with a 6% company match after 90 days. The workplace promotes continuous learning, open‑mindedness regarding industry background, and training opportunities in both buying and planning disciplines. Job Type & Location This is a Permanent position based out of Centennial, CO. Pay And Benefits The pay range for this position is $80000.00 - $85000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors. health, dental, vision, 401k, etc. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Nov 4, 2026. Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Centennial, CO. About Actalent Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® 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 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr Actalent