Buyer/Planner

Itron, Inc.•Walhalla, SC

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Buyer/Planner plays a key role in ensuring materials and production plans are aligned to support safe, high-quality, and on-time manufacturing. This position partners cross-functionally to balance supply and demand, manage supplier relationships, and maintain accurate planning data in a fast-paced environment. The role requires an agile, customer-centric mindset with a focus on collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

2+ years of experience in buying, material planning, production planning, or supply chain within a manufacturing environment.
Working knowledge of MRP/ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Dynamics, Epicor, Infor) and strong ability to maintain accurate transactional data with accountability.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel (filters, pivot tables, lookups) and comfort using data to make decisions and share insights.
Demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage multiple workstreams in a fast-changing environment—remaining agile while meeting commitments.
Strong communication skills with a track record of authentic partnership across teams and with suppliers, including the ability to influence without authority.
Experience analyzing and improving performance in one or more areas: service level, shortages, lead time, inventory turns, supplier on-time delivery, or cost.
Solid understanding of procurement fundamentals (RFQs, lead times, MOQs, incoterms awareness, supplier management) and planning concepts (safety stock, reorder points, demand variability).
Commitment to teamwork and inclusive collaboration—valuing diverse perspectives and contributing to a respectful, collaborative workplace.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
Experience with S&OP/forecasting processes, demand planning, or capacity planning in a mixed build environment (make-to-stock/make-to-order).
Familiarity with Lean/Continuous Improvement methods (Kaizen, 5S, standard work, value stream thinking) and using them to deliver innovative process gains.
Experience with supplier development and performance management (scorecards, corrective actions, dual-sourcing strategies).
Exposure to regulated or quality-driven manufacturing environments and structured change control (ECO/ECN) processes.
APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP) or progress toward certification.

Responsibilities

Plan and balance supply and demand to support safe, high-quality, on-time manufacturing—translating customer needs into actionable material and production plans with a customer-centric mindset.
Own material planning parameters (min/max, reorder points, safety stock, lead times, lot sizes) to improve service levels, reduce shortages, and enable an agile response to changes in demand or supply.
Execute procurement activities including requisitions, purchase orders, order acknowledgements, and expedites—ensuring clear, authentic communication with suppliers and internal partners.
Coordinate production scheduling inputs (capacity constraints, priorities, and material availability) to support reliable build plans and help meet committed ship dates.
Maintain accurate ERP/MRP data (item master, BOM/routings as applicable, supplier lead times, pricing, and inventory attributes) and drive data integrity with accountability.
Manage supplier performance (on-time delivery, quality, responsiveness, cost) and collaborate on corrective actions, continuous improvement, and risk mitigation.
Analyze inventory health (excess/obsolete, turns, cycle counts, slow movers) and implement innovative strategies to optimize working capital without compromising service.
Lead cross-functional collaboration with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Customer Support/Service, and Finance to resolve constraints, address shortages, and reduce disruptions.
Support new product introduction (NPI) and engineering changes by planning phase-in/phase-out of materials, coordinating last-time buys, and minimizing disruption and scrap.
Identify and implement process improvements (e.g., standard work, visual management, kanban signals, supplier collaboration routines) to streamline purchasing and planning workflows.
Prepare and communicate planning/procurement metrics (shortage lists, supplier OTIF, inventory accuracy, past due orders) and provide clear updates to stakeholders.