Buyer Planner

ImageTek , a rapidly growing and expanding contract manufacturer in North Springfield, VT, is seeking a Buyer Planner to add to our amazing team. Relocation assistance will be considered for this role if candidate lives in the New England area.

The Buyer Planner is responsible for managing the souring, procurement and planning of materials, components, and supplies necessary to meet production schedules and customer demand. This role ensures that materials are available when needed, while maintaining optimal inventory levels and minimizing costs. The Buyer Planner acts as a key liaison between suppliers, manufacturing, and internal stakeholders to ensure smooth supply chain operations.

Key Responsibilities

Sourcing, Procurement & Purchasing

• Research, source, negotiate, and purchase materials, components, and services to support production and operational requirements.
• Analyze market trends to identify new sourcing opportunities and risks.
• Negotiate contracts, terms, and pricing with vendors to secure favorable deals.
• Issue and manage purchase orders (POs) ensuring accuracy, on-time delivery, and compliance with company policies.

Logistics and shipping

• Coordinate the end-to-end logistics for shipments, including working with freight forwarders, carriers, and customs brokers.
• Manage and track shipments to ensure on-time delivery and resolve any delays or issues that arise.
• Manage the transportation of goods, including arranging warehousing and distribution as needed.
• Prepare and process complex shipping documentation, such as invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, and certificates of origin.

Planning & Inventory Management

• Analyze material requirements planning (MRP) and forecast data to maintain optimal inventory levels.
• Monitor and adjust purchase plans based on demand changes, production schedules, and lead times.
• Collaborate with production and engineering to resolve material shortages and expedite orders as needed.
• Provide regular updates on supply risks, shortages, and potential impacts to production.

Supplier Management

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and logistics partners.
• Evaluate and monitor supplier performance based on agreed-upon terms, delivery times, and quality standards.
• Work with suppliers to resolve any issues with defective or non-compliant goods.

Inventory and cost management

• Control inventory levels to meet demand while avoiding overstocking.
• Analyze financial reports and proposals to determine and manage the landed cost of goods.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, and terms to achieve cost savings and improve service levels.
• Maintain accurate purchasing and planning records in ERP systems

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in procurement experience with a preference in Printed Circuit Boards or active/passive electronic components, CapEx (Equipment or MRO) and Indirect materials (consumables or packaging materials).

Skills

• Strong analytical, negotiation, critical thinking and problem-solving skills particularly for market trend analysis, cost evaluation, and forecasting.
• Proficiency with enterprise resource planning (ERP)/MRP systems and other supply chain management software is required.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• A detail-oriented and organized work style is crucial for managing extensive documentation and multiple shipments.

The above noted job description is not intended to describe, in detail, the multitude of tasks that may be assigned but rather to give the associate a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations of his/her position. As the nature of business demands change so, too, may the essential functions of the position.

ImageTek provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind, regardless of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.