Operational Planner/Buyer - Latham, NY

Philips•Latham, NY

16h•Hybrid

About The Position

Coordinates end-to-end material planning and procurement activities by managing inventory, forecasting demand, maintaining ERP data, and aligning supply with production through supplier collaboration and S&OP processes. This role involves conducting inventory analysis and owning inventory management within ERP, including supply chain master data setup and maintenance, product lifecycle management, monitoring item changes, and implementing buy-item stock and replenishment policies as well as supplier-managed and supplier-owned inventory models. It also includes implementing inventory strategies, updating procurement master data, performing daily ERP monitoring for optimization opportunities, running simulations for safety stock and lot-sizing, and monitoring special materials and exceptions. The role manages supplier engagement across forecasting and ordering, including communicating and validating forecasts, planning collaboratively with suppliers, generating and placing purchase orders, monitoring order packages and confirmations, consolidating orders, expediting/open-order follow-up, and keeping ERP updated. Additionally, it involves identifying and mitigating material shortage risks, handling return orders and PO issues, involving procurement for commercial leverage, monitoring consignment and vendor-provided stocks, and conducting regular stock takes.

Requirements

4+ years of experience with Vocational Education's in areas of logistics, order management or business administration OR No prior experience required with bachelor’s, preferably Technical knowledge of a manufacturing environment.
Bachelor's degree in business administration, Supply Chain, Operations OR Vocational Education in Order Management or equivalent.
SAP (or comparable ERP system)
MS excel
Effective communication
Desire to resolve supply issues quickly
Comfortable with teamwork and collaboration
Must be able to successfully perform the following minimum Physical, Cognitive and Environmental job requirements with or without accommodation for this Office/Remote position.

Nice To Haves

Technical knowledge of a manufacturing environment preferred.

Responsibilities

Conducts inventory analysis and owns inventory management within ERP, including supply chain master data setup and maintenance, product lifecycle management, monitoring item changes, and implementing buy-item stock and replenishment policies as well as supplier‑managed and supplier‑owned inventory models.
Implements inventory strategies and updates procurement master data (key replenishment materials), performs daily ERP monitoring to identify optimization opportunities, runs simulations for safety stock and lot-sizing (including seasonal/trend coefficients), and monitors special materials and exceptions.
Manages supplier engagement across forecasting and ordering: communicates and validates forecasts, plans collaboratively with suppliers, generates and places purchase orders, monitors order packages and confirmations (delivery time, quality, price), consolidates orders when needed, expedites/open‑order follow‑up, and keeps ERP updated.
Identifies and mitigates moderate material shortage risks across n‑tier suppliers, handles return orders and PO issues, involves procurement for commercial leverage when necessary, monitors consignment and vendor‑provided stocks, and conducts regular stock takes to ensure supply continuity and compliance.