Buyer/Planner

Job Title: Buyer/Planner

Location: 100% On site Shoreview, MN

What We Offer:

• Competitive base salary and annual bonus opportunity.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan with employer match.
• Generous PTO
• Life and disability insurance.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.

Summary
The Buyer/Planner is responsible for the end-to-end procurement and material planning activities that support manufacturing operations within the Engineered Solutions business. This position serves as the primary purchasing resource for all Engineered Solutions product lines and is responsible for ensuring uninterrupted material flow across the entire product portfolio.

Working independently, this role manages purchasing, supplier relationships, inventory planning, demand forecasting, and material availability to support production schedules, customer delivery commitments, and inventory objectives. The Buyer/Planner partners closely with Operations, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and Suppliers to balance cost, quality, inventory levels, and on-time delivery while driving continuous improvement throughout the supply chain.

Essential Functions

• Serve as the primary Buyer/Planner supporting all Engineered Solutions product lines, managing procurement and planning activities across the full manufacturing portfolio.
• Independently manage the purchasing responsibilities previously distributed across multiple product lines and supplier bases, ensuring continuity of supply and production support.
• Forecast material requirements and develop procurement plans that support production schedules, customer demand, and inventory objectives.
• Process purchase orders and manage supplier commitments to ensure timely delivery of quality materials.
• Calculate annual usage forecasts and establish appropriate inventory levels to maintain on-time delivery performance while minimizing excess inventory.
• Research, evaluate, select, and develop suppliers based on quality, cost, delivery performance, service, capacity, and long-term strategic value.
• Negotiate pricing, delivery schedules, lead times, and commercial terms with suppliers to achieve the best overall value.
• Analyze supplier quotations, market trends, and purchasing data to ensure competitive pricing and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Lead supplier performance management by monitoring delivery, quality, responsiveness, and corrective actions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that reduce costs, improve supplier performance, streamline procurement processes, and optimize inventory investment.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records, supplier documentation, inventory data, pricing, and procurement metrics within Epicor and other systems.
• Monitor supplier shipments and proactively resolve delivery issues that could impact production or customer commitments.
• Review engineering changes, product specifications, and technical documentation to maintain an effective understanding of purchased materials and components.
• Perform all purchasing responsibilities related to DMRs, DCOs, and assigned commodity or part numbers.
• Analyze supplier performance data, inventory trends, and material shortages to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Production, Cell Leaders, Quality, and Customer Service to ensure material availability aligns with production priorities.
• Support and maintain effective Kanban replenishment systems and inventory control processes.
• Analyze inventory reports to identify slow-moving, excess, obsolete, and at-risk inventory while recommending appropriate actions.
• Support physical inventory counts, cycle counting activities, and inventory accuracy initiatives.
• Plan and maintain procurement processes that achieve the lowest total cost while meeting quality, inventory, and customer delivery expectations.
• Develop strong working relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers while serving as the primary point of contact for procurement-related matters within Engineered Solutions.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's Degree (A.S.) in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, or a related field; Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment. Equivalent combinations of education and extensive experience will be considered.
• Experience managing multiple product lines, suppliers, and competing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success independently managing procurement activities with minimal supervision.
• Experience with material planning, inventory management, forecasting, and supplier performance management.
• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP), or APICS certification preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ERP systems, preferably Epicor.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to build effective relationships across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to prioritize a high-volume workload while maintaining accuracy and meeting critical production deadlines.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.