08 - Buying/Planning Specialist

Celestica•Maple Grove, MN

About The Position

The Buying/Planning Specialist applies in-depth knowledge in a specialized area while working within established professional standards and practices. The role addresses problems of moderate scope that require analysis and judgment, works under minimal supervision, and seeks approval for matters outside its scope. The employee receives direction on assignment objectives, resolves unusual problems jointly with a manager, and has work reviewed for sound technical judgment. The position may lead a work group or project team and builds internal and external relationships that support role objectives, including relationships with suppliers, customers, and internal service teams. The role is responsible for accurate supplier pricing, invoice and receipt issue resolution, maintenance of item data, BOM cost analysis, supplier-performance reporting, and planning and procuring materials to meet manufacturing and customer forecast requirements. It coordinates material flow through production, manages purchase orders in response to MRP and production plans, and supports supplier setup and new product introductions through manufacturing and shipping. The position is based in a normal office environment. Duties may require extended sitting, sustained visual concentration on a computer monitor or detailed data, and frequent repetitive manual movements such as data entry and computer or calculator use. The stated annual salary range is $75,000–$90,000. Eligible employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week may receive medical, dental, and vision insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, voluntary benefits, PTO, and a 401(k) plan with company match.

Requirements

Three to six years of relevant experience.
Bachelor's degree in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience; educational requirements may vary by geography.
Ability to consolidate, manipulate, and analyze large quantities of data with a high degree of accuracy.
Strong knowledge of basic computer applications and ability to quickly learn and use department-specific applications, including ERP systems and office suites.
Excellent Excel knowledge, including pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, IFs, SUMIFs, COUNTIFs, SUMPRODUCT, nested formulas, and Power Query.
Extensive knowledge of procurement processes, inventory management, and supplier management.
Knowledge of an electronic manufacturing environment, the types of materials purchased by the department, and the engineering change process.
Good negotiation and problem-resolution skills.
Ability to plan strategically for coordinated delivery of a variety of materials.
Ability to manage multiple tasks, maintain attention to detail and accuracy, and work under tight deadlines.
Ability to evaluate, prioritize, and solve a variety of tasks to ensure timely and accurate completion.
Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, with a wide variety of internal and external customers.

Nice To Haves

APICS certification (CPIM, CSCP, or CLTD) is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Validate supplier quotes against customer purchase orders upon arrival to ensure pricing accuracy and compliance.
Resolve discrepancies in supplier invoices and receipts in a timely manner.
Maintain the integrity and accuracy of the Item Master file, updating material data quarterly.
Analyze Bills of Material for cost competitiveness and collaborate with Engineering, Program Management, and Commodity Management to validate costed BOMs for accuracy and alignment with market trends.
Consolidate, tabulate, and analyze commitment and performance metrics to report on supplier effectiveness and procurement status.
Plan and procure materials needed to meet manufacturing build requirements for one or several product lines.
Plan and schedule timely material availability to meet customer forecasts.
Determine material requirements from engineering and production schedules and coordinate efficient movement of materials throughout the production cycle.
Review requisitions, contact vendors, examine bids, and initiate contracts.
Initiate purchases through the MRP process and determine when and what quantity or order to place based on relevant factors.
Push or cancel orders in accordance with production plans.
Review forecasted requirements and purchase materials accordingly.
Ensure materials are available to meet manufacturing build requirements while balancing material infeed and inventory turnover to avoid excessive inventory.
Help establish new supplier accounts with the finance department.
Investigate and resolve invoice or supplier issues.
Act as a customer liaison during new product introduction and guide the product through manufacturing to shipping according to customer requirements.