Planner/Buyer

Sika AG•Aurora, IL

About The Position

The Planner/Buyer develops production plans to maximize supply while achieving operational and inventory efficiency targets. The role purchases raw materials, packaging, and other components needed to meet the production plan. It manages purchasing and inventory, generates and expedites purchase orders, and communicates supply issues, pricing changes, and lead-time impacts with suppliers and Corporate Procurement. The Planner/Buyer develops production schedules using SAP MRP and other planning tools, resolves production and capacity constraints, and coordinates with cross-functional teams to support material flow and order fulfillment. The role also partners with R&D, Marketing, EHS, and Operations on labeling, compliance, and operational goals, and conducts inventory control activities to maintain accuracy and material visibility. Sika is a global specialty chemicals company developing and producing systems and products for construction and industrial markets. The company describes its culture as entrepreneurial and emphasizes employee safety, open communication, community contribution, and sustainability.

Requirements

At least 5 years of production planning and/or purchasing experience in a manufacturing environment.
Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Supply Chain, or a related field.
Proficiency in SAP or comparable ERP systems and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
Strong understanding of inventory management, material requirements planning (MRP), bills of materials, and component planning.
Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across teams.

Nice To Haves

APICS certification.

Responsibilities

Manage purchasing of raw materials and packaging to support production requirements, inventory targets, and demand forecasts.
Maintain accurate inventory levels and master data for raw materials, packaging, and finished goods.
Generate, monitor, and expedite purchase orders; communicate supply issues, pricing changes, and lead-time impacts with suppliers and Corporate Procurement.
Develop and manage production schedules using SAP MRP and other planning tools to ensure product availability and optimize plant resources.
Resolve production and capacity constraints by balancing inventory, machine capacity, manpower, and operational priorities.
Coordinate with Production, Quality, Logistics, Customer Service, Shipping/Receiving, and other cross-functional teams to ensure timely material flow and order fulfillment.
Partner with R&D, Marketing, EHS, and Operations to ensure proper product and raw material labeling, compliance, and execution of operational goals.
Conduct inventory control activities, including warehouse walkthroughs, cycle counts, discrepancy investigations, and inventory reconciliations.