Planner/Buyer

Blue Marble Communications•Poway, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Blue Marble Communications is seeking a Planner/Buyer. This person will be responsible for planning production and supporting purchasing for one or more product lines. They will utilize best planning practices and exceptional communication to translate program requirements into achievable manufacturing orders. This position will require the candidate to work on site. The ideal candidate will have an aptitude and eagerness to learn. The candidate must be a self-starter with great time management skills and very strong attention to detail.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in a related field, with 2+ years of planning experience in a manufacturing environment
5+ years of planning experience in a manufacturing environment in lieu of a degree
Experience with ERP, especially SAP or SAP B1, preferred
Highly self-motivated and proactive
Strong attention to detail
Excellent MS Office skills, primarily Excel
Excellent oral and written communication skills with all levels of the organization
Excellent organizational and recordkeeping skills, including confidential information
Aptitude to effectively plan, prioritize, execute, follow up, anticipate changes
Must be able to meet strict deadlines and manage competing priorities
Must have a thorough understanding of manufacturing planning principles, theories, techniques and concepts as well as ability to understand accounting and manufacturing systems in a production environment
Must be a US Person (This position has export control and security-related requirements that mandate attention to the citizenship status of any potential candidate and necessitates that the individual either be a United States Citizen, Permanent Resident of the United States, or lawfully admitted into the United States as a refugee or granted asylum by the United States Government.)

Responsibilities

This position is responsible for supporting one or more programs through the planning, preparing, issuing and controlling of production and procurement activities
Responsible for the creation and maintenance of production schedules to meet program schedule requirements and business needs
Responsible for reviewing material requirements and releasing purchase orders to procurement
Report, address, and resolve any material issues affecting program schedule targets with manufacturing, procurement, engineering, or others as needed
Processes work orders and material transactions for any deviations from the work order or non-conforming material dispositions.
Execute and oversee ERP work order and inventory transactions (issues/returns/transfers/receipts, rework/repair, nonconforming dispositions) with strong emphasis on traceability, revision control, and adherence to internal standards.
Own kit readiness by creating/maintaining kit schedules, coordinating with Inventory/Stockroom on kit releases, and proactively clearing blockers (shortages, substitutions, lead times, ERP issues) to support on-time work order start dates.
Establish a consistent communication cadence with Inventory and Manufacturing (e.g., kit priority lists, shortage reports, daily/weekly check-ins) to confirm upcoming kit needs, align priorities, and ensure kits are staged and issued on time.
Manage subcontract manufacturing workflows (e.g., PCBA assembly): coordinate PO placement, kit/shipment readiness, build priorities, status updates, issue resolution, and receipt/closure in the ERP system.
Maintain all open PO data related to assigned programs in the ERP system, follow up on vendor emails, and expedite with vendors to ensure on time delivery
Negotiate pricing, terms, and contracts with suppliers to ensure cost-effectiveness and favorable payment terms where appropriate