Buyer Planner

Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Who will you be working with?

You will collaborate with internal teams including the Supply Chain Manager, Operations, Quality, Engineering, the Sourcing Manager and Operational Excellence teams. You will also interact directly with external suppliers and other Wabtec sites to ensure smooth fulfillment, inventory management and sourcing processes.

How will you make the difference

You will manage the buying process for a defined set of products and maintain compliance with Wabtec sourcing policies.  You will interface with external suppliers and internal Wabtec companies to ensure quality, cost effectiveness, and on-time delivery are achieved. Your daily efforts will ensure consistent supply of buy parts to support production demand, inventory optimization, minimized premium transportation costs and improved supplier performance.  You will also collaborate with the Sourcing Commodity Manager on cost-out initiatives and supplier selection to support the commodity sourcing strategy.

4800 Deramus Ave, Kansas City, MO 64120  

What we want to know about you:

Minimum Qualifications and requirements: (To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.)

Required Qualifications

• Preferred: bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Industrial Engineering or related field or least 5 years of procurement or sourcing experience in a manufacturing environment.

• Preferred: Experience in railroad, aerospace, automotive or other heavy industrial manufacturing or remanufacturing sectors.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proven experience working effectively with suppliers, managing purchase orders and ensuring supplier on-time delivery to meet production requirements.

• Experience in the supplier selection process and managing supplier partnerships using performance KPI metrics.

• Ability to generate a comprehensive Supplier Request for Quotation package.

• Ability to perform accurate and thorough cost analysis comparing current total cost to new supplier quotations total cost.

• Proven supplier negotiation techniques.

• Foundational proficiency in supply chain management principles and commodity sourcing strategies.

• Ability to work with complex material flows.

• Strong understanding of ERP MRP fundamentals, including purchase order signals, purchase order reschedule signals, planning parameters and the importance of transactional accuracy and its impact on inventory control.

• Ability to interpret and work with technical specifications, drawings, and quality requirements.

• Understanding of Bill of Material framework and BOM costs.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Suit (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) and ability to learn software quickly.

• Professional and concise verbal and written communication skills required for effective interaction with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills to build effective and trusted supplier and team relationships.

• Organized and posses a drive for continuous improvement.

• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.

What will your typical day look like?

• Evaluate MRP to understand buy part supply/demand signals and create purchase orders.

• Establish appropriate stocking strategies and maintain buy part planning parameters.

• Manage supplier relationships to ensure purchase orders are acknowledged, PO dates are maintained and shipments are executed on-time.

• Expedite supplier parts when unexpected shortages occur or demand is short cycled. Work closely with suppliers on recovery plans.

• Manage new supplier set-up and supplier maintenance (HICX portal).

• Manage ERP Sourcing Rules and Quotation accuracy to facilitate Auto-PO, where applicable.

• Daily and effective communication with production on shortages and recovery plans.

• Manage transportation costs working to avoid premium air shipments.

• Right-size inventory by reducing excess inventory and evaluate shortages.

• Engage with Quality and Engineering to address supplier non-conforming parts.

• Assess supplier capabilities and make recommendations for supplier selection.

• Collaborate and support the Sourcing Manager in inflation/deflation goals and commodity strategy execution.

• Serve as the primary accounts payable/ receivable contact for your supply base.

• Support warehouse by ensuring healthy inventory levels are maintained to meet demand.

• Occasional buy part inventory counts, executing physical inventory adjustments in the ERP system.

• Maintain key product indicators in fulfillment, planning and inventory.  

What about the physical demand of the job:

Physical Demands: (The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job . Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

• Role is primary performed in an office environment requiring extensive use of computers, phone and other office equipment.

• Occasional presence on the shop floor or visits to other manufacturing sites as needed.

• May require extended periods of sitting and working at a desk.

• The position requires the employee to be on-site 5 days a week during the scheduled shift to perform daily duties and responsibilities.

• May require talking, standing, and bending to lift up to 25 lbs when handling parts in the shop periodically.

Work Environment: (The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.)

• When visiting the shop or production areas, the employee must follow all safety procedures, including the use of PEE as required.

Our job titles may span more than one career level. The salary rate for this role is currently $62100-85300 The actual salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors, such as: training, transferable skills, work experience, education, business needs, market demands and work location. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, are available at mywabtecbenefits.com. Other benefit offerings for this role may include annual bonus, if eligible.

What could you accomplish in a place that puts People First?

At Wabtec, it’s not just about a job - it’s about the impact you make. When our people come together, we’re Expanding the Possible by continuously improving what we do and how we do it - for our clients and each other.

If you’re ready to revolutionize how the world moves for future generations, Wabtec is the place for you.

Who are we?

Wabtec is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and value-added services for the freight and transit rail sectors. Drawing on more than 150 years of experience, we are leading the way in safety, efficiency, reliability, innovation, and productivity. Whether it’s freight, transit, ports, logistics, mining, industrial, or marine, our expertise, technologies, and people together – are accelerating the future of transportation. With roots that date back to George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, and Louis Faiveley, Wabtec has always built technologies and implemented solutions for a variety of sectors that are critical to meeting the needs of customers and governments alike.

Our global team of about 30,000 employees worldwide delivers performance that moves the world forward. We’re lifelong learners, obsessed with better. Learn more at

Culture powers us and the possibilities.

We believe the best ideas come from a mix of experiences and backgrounds. At Wabtec, we strive every day to create a place where everyone belongs. We’re building a culture where leadership, inclusion and your unique perspective fuel progress.

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome talent of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including race, gender, age, disability, veteran status and more.

Need accommodation? Just let us know - we’ve got you.