Buyer/Planner

Accentuate Staffing is currently seeking a Buyer, Planner for a global medical device manufacturer in Durham. The Buyer, Planner, is responsible for managing the full procurement and production planning life cycle to ensure materials, components, and finished goods are available to meet customer demand. This role combines strategic sourcing, supplier management, inventory optimization, and cross‑functional coordination to support operational excellence and cost efficiency.

Responsibilities:

• Procurement & Supplier Management
• 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 current and compliant with company requirements.
• Manage placing all expense purchase orders for the company. Coordinate purchase requisitions with requestors to ensure purchase orders are placed in a timely fashion.
• Issue/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.

• Planning & Inventory Management
• Manage ERP/MRP parameters (such as lead times, safety stock levels, order quantities etc.) 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 made.
• Manage and reconcile open jobs 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.

• Cross ‑ Functional Collaboration
• Manage Non-Conformance process, working closely with Quality and Production personnel to ensure all non-conformances are identified and dispositioned in 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.

• Data Analysis & Reporting
• Track KPIs such as on time delivery, inventory turns, supplier performance, PPV, cost savings etc.
• 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 duties and special projects as assigned.

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 a plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with ERP systems, MS Office Suite.
• Managing and interpreting data using MS Excel.
• Skill to negotiate 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.