Plant Buyer I

Interplastic Corporation • Minneapolis, MN

8h • $57,307 - $70,800

About The Position

The Plant Buyer I is responsible for supporting day-to-day purchasing activities related to maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) materials to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations. This role focuses on execution, supplier coordination, and inventory accuracy while building a strong foundation in procurement, cost control, and cross-functional collaboration.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, Mathematics, or related field (or equivalent experience/training).
• 1–3 years of purchasing, supply chain, or inventory-related experience (manufacturing environment preferred).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including basic formulas and pivot tables.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and follow-through.
• Experience working in a manufacturing or plant-based environment.
• Exposure to ERP systems such as M3, SAP, or similar platforms.
• Familiarity with MRO materials, supplier negotiations, or total cost analysis.
• Comfortable communicating with vendors and internal stakeholders in a professional, assertive manner.

Responsibilities

• Procure MRO parts, supplies, and services to support maintenance, production, and facility operations.
• Ensure materials and services are available in the right quantities and at the right time to prevent downtime.
• Expedite urgent or critical orders to support unplanned maintenance or equipment breakdowns.
• Monitor inventory levels and usage trends to help minimize stockouts, excess inventory, and obsolescence.
• Assist with sourcing, evaluating, and negotiating with suppliers to achieve best total cost of ownership.
• Support supplier performance monitoring related to pricing, lead times, and service levels.
• Review supplier invoices and reconcile pricing against purchase orders and receiving records.
• Maintain accurate item master data, pricing, and supplier records within the ERP system.
• Ensure purchasing approvals and documentation are completed in compliance with company policies.
• Verify that contractors meet purchasing and EHS requirements, including insurance, documentation, and safety standards.
• Partner with Maintenance, Engineering, Operations, EHS, and Finance teams to identify critical spare parts and standardize commonly used items.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on cost savings, process efficiency, and service reliability.
• Assist with spend analysis, budgeting, and forecasting for MRO categories.
• Support audits of inventory, supplier compliance, and purchasing processes.

Benefits

• Positive, collaborative, and safety-focused work environment
• Competitive compensation and benefits, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, and generous PTO
• Opportunities to grow within supply chain and operations roles across multiple Interplastic businesses
• Stability of a long-standing, privately held manufacturing organization

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees