MRO Planner/Buyer

Hans Kissle•Haverhill, MA

12h•Onsite

About The Position

The Maintenance MRO Planner/Buyer is responsible for the end-to-end management of procurement, inventory control, and vendor performance for all maintenance spare parts, consumables, and services required to support plant reliability and preventative maintenance programs. This role ensures critical and consumable spare parts are accurately planned, stocked, and available within the CMMS (MaintainX) to support execution of all preventative and corrective maintenance activities, while meeting company food safety, quality, and compliance standards. This position is accountable for planning and coordinating external contractor activities, including both preventative and corrective work orders, ensuring services are scheduled, executed safely, and completed on time and within budget. The MRO Planner/Buyer plays a key role in supporting the Weekend PM program by preparing and staging spare parts kits for all scheduled work orders, ensuring technicians have the materials required to execute maintenance efficiently and without delay. Additionally, this role maintains optimal inventory levels, drives supplier performance, and ensures 5S standards are upheld across all spare parts storage areas. Through proactive planning, strong vendor partnerships, and disciplined inventory management, this position directly supports equipment reliability, uptime, and overall operational efficiency.

Requirements

High School Diploma and/or equivalent experience required
3–5 years of experience in MRO procurement, maintenance planning, or supply chain purchasing within a manufacturing or industrial environment
2+ years of experience coordinating external service providers and contractors, including scheduling and execution of maintenance-related work
Strong working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and CMMS platforms, including material planning, work order support, and inventory management
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including data analysis, pivot tables, and inventory tracking; proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint)
Demonstrated experience in inventory control and materials planning, including managing spare parts, min/max levels, and supporting preventative maintenance activities
Solid understanding of procurement fundamentals, including purchasing processes, supplier coordination, and cost management
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, schedules, and systems simultaneously
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across Maintenance, Operations, Finance, and external partners
Self-directed and accountable

Nice To Haves

Experience in a food manufacturing or regulated production environment, with knowledge of food safety and quality standards
Experience supporting preventative maintenance programs, including planning, scheduling, or kitting of maintenance work orders
Familiarity with MaintainX or similar CMMS platforms
Experience with strategic sourcing, supplier evaluation, and vendor performance management, including negotiation of pricing and service agreements
Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles, including 5S, visual management, and continuous improvement initiatives
Experience with spare parts standardization, critical spares analysis, or inventory optimization strategies
Bilingual in English and Spanish

Responsibilities

Owns the procurement of all maintenance materials, components, equipment, supplies, and services required to support plant operations, ensuring compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory standards
Plans, schedules, and expedites the procurement and delivery of goods and services to meet maintenance and production requirements, utilizing strategies such as JIT, Kanban, blanket purchase orders, and rescheduling
Manages and maintains accurate material, supplier, and planning data within the CMMS (MaintainX) and ERP/MRP systems, including item master, BOMs, min/max levels, and supplier records
Determines material requirements based on preventative maintenance (PM) schedules and work orders, ensuring all required parts and materials are available prior to execution
Prepares, stages, and manages spare parts kits for all scheduled preventative maintenance work orders, supporting the Weekend PM team and ensuring efficient, uninterrupted execution of maintenance activities
Maintains optimal inventory levels of critical and consumable spare parts through effective planning, min/max control, and usage analysis to prevent stockouts and excess inventory
Leads the organization and 5S standards of all spare parts storage areas, ensuring materials are properly labeled, accessible, and controlled
Plans, schedules, and coordinates external contractors for preventative and corrective maintenance work, ensuring work is completed safely, on time, and within budget
Identifies, evaluates, and develops supplier relationships to ensure reliable supply, competitive pricing, and alignment with company quality standards
Solicits and evaluates supplier bids based on total cost of ownership, including price, quality, delivery, and service performance
Negotiates pricing, lead times, and service agreements with suppliers and contractors to optimize cost and service levels
Drives cost reduction initiatives through supplier optimization, standardization of parts and services, and continuous improvement of purchasing practices
Partners with Maintenance, Operations, Finance, and Receiving to resolve discrepancies related to purchase orders, receipts, and invoicing
Supports the development and management of the maintenance operating and capital budgets, tracking spend and identifying opportunities for cost control and savings
Develops, implements, and supports sourcing strategies and supplier performance management processes to ensure long-term reliability and value