Buyer Planner

Aston Carter•Lake Forest, CA

1d•$80,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Buyer Planner will work closely with global sales teams, internal manufacturing sites, and external suppliers to ensure purchased components and finished goods are available to meet customer demand. This role plays a key part in monthly Global Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) reviews for the flagship product line, helping to maintain an optimized supply chain and consistently high service levels.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
5+ years of experience in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain within a manufacturing environment
Proficiency with ERP systems such as NetSuite, SAP, or Navision
Experience in global sourcing and working with international suppliers
Familiarity with electronic components, molded parts, mechanical assemblies, and finished goods
Strong knowledge of purchasing principles and vendor management
Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills
Highly detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management abilities
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel (pivot tables and VLOOKUPs)

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of import/export compliance, logistics, and inventory control is advantageous
Supply chain certifications such as APICS, Six Sigma, or CPM are highly desirable

Responsibilities

Prepare and maintain SIOP files and documentation
Schedule and facilitate monthly SIOP meetings, including follow-up on action items
Monitor purchase order ship dates, expediting or escalating as necessary
Resolve supply challenges to prevent stock-outs
Create and adjust purchase orders to ensure accurate ship dates and quantities
Maintain ERP systems with current lead times, minimum order quantities, and safety stock levels
Generate shortage reports and drive corrective action plans for late deliveries
Optimize inbound freight by adjusting purchase order quantities for container utilization
Analyze excess and obsolete inventory, collaborating with finance on write-offs
Support new product development initiatives with supply chain planning
Manage demand signals for parts phasing out of production to minimize exposure
Reduce minimum order quantities or lead times to support inventory turns and working capital goals
Participate in long-range planning to identify bottlenecks and contribute to capacity expansion strategies

Benefits

Health & Wellness Medical Insurance: Comprehensive coverage including doctor visits, hospital stays, and preventive care; Multiple plan options available to suit individual needs.
Dental Insurance: Coverage for routine cleanings, check-ups, and major dental procedures
Vision Insurance: Includes annual eyes exams, glasses, and contact lenses.
Health Savings Account (HSA): A personal healthcare bank account to pay out-of-pocket medical expenses with pretax dollars.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential counseling and support services for personal and work-related matters.
Wellness Activities & Challenges: Occasional company-sponsored activities to encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Financial Support Retirement Plan: Safe Harbor 401(k) plan with company matching contributions up 5%. Once eligible, team members are 100% vested from day 1.
Life Insurance: Employer-paid basic life insurance with options to purchase additional coverage.
Short-Term Disability Insurance Plan (for Team Members Outside of California): Offers financial support if you lose time on the job due to an injury unrelated to a worker’s compensation incident or illness.
Long-Term Disability Insurance Plan: Offers financial protection if you become disabled and can longer work. It will also help you return to work, if appropriate.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Tax-free accounts for eligible health and dependent care expenses.
Paid Time Off Vacation Days: 2 weeks (80 hours) of paid vacation annually, with additional accrual for longer tenure.
Sick Leave: 1 week (40 hours) of paid sick leave per year to address health needs.
Paid Holidays: Observance of 11 major national and company-specific holidays.