Buyer/Planner

Buyer/Planner

Location: Tempe, AZ

Compensation: $90,000–$110,000 + Bonus + Benefits

About the Opportunity

We are seeking a Buyer/Planner to support procurement, production planning, and supply chain execution within a regulated manufacturing environment. This individual will play a critical role in balancing customer demand, supplier performance, inventory strategy, and production schedules to ensure uninterrupted operations.

This is a hands-on position for someone who enjoys operating at the intersection of purchasing, planning, operations, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Manage purchasing and planning activities to support production schedules and customer requirements.
• Generate and maintain purchase orders, planned orders, and supply requirements within ERP/MRP systems.
• Develop and maintain production schedules aligned with manufacturing capacity and inventory targets.
• Monitor inventory levels and execute replenishment strategies to minimize shortages and excess inventory.
• Analyze demand forecasts and adjust supply plans accordingly.
• Coordinate directly with suppliers regarding delivery schedules, lead times, expedites, shortages, and corrective actions.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, and Quality teams to support production readiness and issue resolution.
• Maintain accurate ERP data including item masters, BOM structures, lead times, planning parameters, and inventory controls.
• Support engineering changes and new product introductions to ensure seamless transitions into production.
• Track supplier performance and drive improvements in delivery, responsiveness, and material availability.
• Identify and implement process improvements to increase planning accuracy and operational efficiency.
• Support inventory analysis, cycle counts, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in Buyer, Planner, Buyer/Planner, Materials Planning, Supply Chain, or Production Planning roles.
• Experience supporting manufacturing environments required; regulated industries preferred.
• Strong understanding of purchasing, inventory management, production planning, and MRP principles.
• Experience working within ERP systems and maintaining planning and procurement data.
• Ability to interpret BOMs, production requirements, and engineering documentation.
• Strong supplier management and cross-functional communication skills.
• Intermediate to advanced Excel skills.
• Analytical mindset with strong organization and follow-through.

Preferred Experience

• High-mix manufacturing environments.
• Forecasting and inventory optimization.
• New Product Introduction (NPI) support.
• Supplier performance management.
• Process improvement and operational efficiency initiatives.

What Success Looks Like

• Consistent material availability to support production.
• Improved planning accuracy and reduced shortages.
• Strong supplier partnerships.
• Healthy inventory levels and schedule adherence.
• Proactive communication and problem solving across teams.