Senior Planner Buyer - Plymouth, MN

April 15, 2024

JOB SUMMARY:

Develop, administer, and negotiate specifications, quote requests price, and other contractual provisions with Industrial supply Vendors for diverse parts in order to align with Sourcing Commodity Strategies. The Senior Planner Buyer is in charge of analyzing MRP results, making sure that Materials have correct parameters in order to effectively place purchasing orders with Suppliers, verify best price and negotiate when necessary.  Ensure that best price, quality, and delivery is provided by the vendor.  Senior Planner Buyer is the main responsible to maintain Purchase Order Dates, Confirmations, Expedites and monitoring EDI issues in order to make accurate information for Purchase orders to the Internal customers as well as Suppliers as well as quoting materials with new vendors to maximize deliveries and best price.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management or Engineering and 3- 6 years of experience in Supply Chain (Manufacturing preferred or assessed equivalent experience
• Knowledge of a variety of Purchasing concepts/procedures and/or Materials Planning 
• Thorough understanding of manufacturing concepts and knowledge of MRP Systems SAP Preferred
• Cross functional orientation and ability to consider and deal with all technical commercial and relational aspects of the job
• Track record of being proactive, taking initiative, and demonstrating a sense of urgency
• Strong verbal and written communication with ability to effectively communicate at multiple levels on the organization
• Negotiation Skills

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Perform functions to develop, support, and maintain supplier relations including quoting of materials, measurement of supplier activities, contractual agreements, forecast provisions, supplier quality, and supplier audits.
2.  Assist product management and engineering to source parts and develop parts design as well as engineering specifications.
3. Ensure that system data is maintained and that it supports the effective generation of procurement messages and reports.
4. Develop alternative sources while promoting continuity of supply, consistency of quality and procompetitive pricing. Working with Commodity Managers to align with Sourcing Strategies
5. Work cross functionally to address quality, cost, product development or manufacturing issues in a timely manner
6. Assure to transfer RM’s between manufacturing plants in order to keep the right levels of stock and use current stock first instead of Buying extra when it is not necessary.
7. Monitor ECO Activities, part number cross referencing- substitutions, Etc.
8. Establish and maintain measurable performance metrics for all levels of procurement activities.
9. Monitor RM parameters consistently to manage possible spikes in order to ensure appropriate resolution and or escalation issues.
10. Monitor assigned model metrics and measurements to make sure that goals are on track.
11. Work closely with the entire Supply Chain team to satisfy the Raw Materials availability, especially when materials are related to special projects where complexity is higher.
12. Perform order procurement activities including creating, tracking, expediting, confirming, and updating purchase orders as well as resolving related issues.
13. Review MRP Exception alerts, take action, including order placement, expedite, reschedule, updating required notes and investigating issues as needed.
14. Act as primary contact for handling daily communication with Suppliers, Review Open orders and communicate appropriate actions, update PO promise dates, and communicate part availability, proactively communicate with suppliers regarding any changes to delivery dates or issues associated with materials. Lead and work with suppliers to develop solutions to par unavailability, communicate and follow appropriate escalation process to communicate risk depending on degree of impact to the Supply Planning Manager.
15. Manage supplier relationships, lead negotiations, and facilitate supplier audits and evaluate supplier performance.
16. Maintain planning parameters, ensure all parameters including lot sizes, rounding values, safety stocks are set for replenishment based on required demand in order to support the goals, ensure to follow guidelines established by the Organization managed by the Planner Buyer Specialist and Inventory Management Specialist.
17. Perform other related duties as assigned.