Lead Buyer / Planner

Coherent Corp.•East Granby, CT

6d•$90,000 - $127,000

About The Position

The Lead Buyer / Planner owns the supplier side of the product ramp, including strategic agreements with key suppliers, capacity and allocation commitments, second-source qualification for critical materials, supplier risk monitoring, and purchasing high-volume supplies. The position works with product line management and engineering to maintain one normal configuration per product so purchases align with the bill of materials. It manages supplier agreements and relationships established during the first two quarters of the product ramp and governs cost and continuity of supply for the life of the product line. The role manages purchasing processes for assigned suppliers, categories, and manufacturing sites; supports annual operating budget development and monitoring; coordinates bids and RFQs/RFPs; negotiates contractual provisions; and leads cost-reduction activity. It maintains MRP integrity and purchasing transaction flow, establishes and maintains VMI/CVMI agreements and inventory levels, reviews procurement and invoice documentation, and resolves disputed invoices. The Lead Buyer / Planner serves as the commercial expert on cross-functional teams and supports internal customers, suppliers, and the purchasing team. The position works in a normal office environment and climate-controlled manufacturing facilities, with exposure to chemicals such as solids and acids. Weekend availability may be required. Employees must follow site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. corporate EHS standards. Depending on location, the role may support applicable quality and environmental management standards, including ISO 9000, 9001, and 14001.

Requirements

At least 7 years of direct or closely related experience.
BS/MS or equivalent degree in a related field.
Working understanding of MRP systems, bills of materials, accounting, production control, receiving, and inventory; some database management skills.
Understanding of Purchasing’s role in an ERP/MRP (Expandable) environment and ability to interface with manufacturing database systems (Agile).
Strong customer-service skills and ability to communicate effectively with internal customers, outside suppliers, operations personnel, and upper management.
Strong time-management skills and self-motivation to complete projects and duties on time.
Working knowledge of procurement and supplier-management processes.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills to support internal customer and external supplier relationships.
Conflict-resolution and team-development skills, including the ability to work with and influence others in a dynamic environment.
Willingness to get involved, ask questions, obtain support from others, and provide support to others.
Ability to follow site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. corporate EHS standards.

Responsibilities

Manage purchasing processes for equipment, supplies, and services for assigned suppliers, categories, and manufacturing sites.
Participate in developing and monitoring performance against the annual operating budget.
Coordinate bids, RFQs, and RFPs; ensure legal and contractual provisions are met; participate in solicitation, evaluation, and award; conduct or assist with price and cost analysis; negotiate contract provisions; and prepare specifications as needed.
Lead cost-reduction activities and report progress to management consistently.
Maintain MRP system integrity and monitor indicators to ensure smooth purchasing transactions, including purchase order entry, expediting, tracking multi-party component assemblies, and assisting with part-number creation.
Create consigned vendor-managed inventory (CVMI) or vendor-managed inventory (VMI) agreements and maintain inventory levels that support operational performance.
Determine appropriate contracts for procurement needs; review requisitions, purchase orders, and related documents for completeness, accuracy, and compliance; review invoices and other documentation; and resolve disputed invoices.
Maintain an in-depth understanding of purchased commodities and their industry-leading suppliers.
Interface with internal customers, collaborate with peer groups, and support the purchasing team.
Participate in or lead cross-functional teams to meet departmental goals and objectives, serving as the commercial expert.
Work with product line management and engineering to maintain one normal configuration per product and align purchasing with the bill of materials.
Manage supplier agreements and relationships, capacity and allocation commitments, second-source qualification, and supplier risk monitoring.