Senior Buyer Planner

Aston Carter•San Diego, CA

8d•$45 - $55•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Senior Buyer / Planner to join a high-performing supply chain team supporting a cutting-edge life sciences manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for end-to-end procurement, planning, and inventory management of critical consumable materials that enable uninterrupted production operations. The ideal candidate combines strong purchasing and planning expertise with the ability to analyze demand, manage supplier relationships, and support manufacturing in a fast-paced environment. Experience procuring chemicals, wet consumables, packaging materials, and plastics within a life sciences or regulated manufacturing setting is highly preferred. This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on supply chain professional who enjoys ownership, cross-functional collaboration, and driving operational excellence.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in purchasing, procurement, supply planning, materials planning, or buyer/planner roles.
Experience supporting a manufacturing environment within the life sciences, biotech, diagnostics, pharmaceutical, or related industry.
Hands-on procurement experience with consumables, chemicals, organic materials, packaging, and/or plastics.
Strong understanding of inventory management, demand planning, and material replenishment processes.
Experience managing supplier relationships and coordinating with domestic and international vendors.
Ability to interpret technical product specifications and chemical material descriptions.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including PivotTables, VLOOKUPs, and data analysis functions.
Experience working within an ERP system; NetSuite experience strongly preferred.
Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, Chemistry, Life Sciences, or a related field preferred.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience purchasing chemicals, wet consumables, or laboratory/manufacturing materials.
Exposure to life sciences organizations supporting molecular diagnostics, sequencing, biotechnology, or related manufacturing operations.
Knowledge of organic chemistry terminology and chemical supply chains.
Experience supporting lean manufacturing or high-performance supply chain organizations.
Experience with international sourcing and supplier coordination.
Master's degree or advanced professional certifications in Supply Chain, Operations, or related disciplines.

Responsibilities

Manage procurement and material planning activities for consumables, including: Wet chemicals, Organic materials, Packaging components, Plastics and production supplies
Ensure material availability to support manufacturing schedules and production continuity.
Create, manage, and monitor purchase orders from requisition through receipt within NetSuite ERP.
Analyze inventory levels, demand forecasts, lead times, and consumption trends to optimize supply levels.
Interpret technical specifications, chemical descriptions, and unit-of-measure requirements to ensure accurate purchasing and inventory control.
Maintain strong relationships with domestic and international suppliers while ensuring timely delivery and issue resolution.
Collaborate closely with Manufacturing, Operations, and Supply Chain teams to align purchasing activities with production requirements.
Monitor supplier performance, shipment status, and material risks to proactively mitigate supply disruptions.
Utilize advanced Excel tools, including PivotTables and VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP functions, to analyze procurement and inventory data.
Support demand planning, inventory replenishment, and materials forecasting processes.
Identify opportunities to improve purchasing efficiency, inventory performance, and supply chain processes.
Ensure compliance with internal purchasing procedures, ERP transaction requirements, and inventory controls.