Buyer Planner

Job Title: Buyer Planner I

Job Description

The Buyer Planner I plays a critical, dual-function role within the supply chain team, managing a unique portfolio that spans suppliers, university lab providers, co-packers, contract manufacturers, and internal manufacturing sites. This position oversees the end-to-end procurement cycle—from sourcing and purchase order execution through shipment tracking and customer delivery—while coordinating material movement, inventory transfers, dropship orders, and vendor relationships. The role offers broad exposure to procurement, planning, logistics, supplier management, and cross-functional operations, and provides the opportunity to make a direct impact on customer satisfaction and overall supply chain performance.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full lifecycle of purchase orders and work orders, ensuring accurate creation, timely execution, and alignment with customer and business requirements.
• Oversee the end-to-end procurement cycle, from sourcing and order placement through fulfillment and customer delivery.
• Coordinate material movement across suppliers, co-packers, contract manufacturers, university lab providers, and internal manufacturing sites.
• Monitor supplier performance, including on-time delivery, quality, and responsiveness, and address issues proactively to maintain reliable supply.
• Track domestic and international shipments, monitor status, and resolve shipment delays or discrepancies to keep orders on schedule.
• Manage sales order ship dates and provide time-sensitive updates to internal stakeholders to ensure customer commitments are met.
• Handle dropship orders, ensuring accurate setup, timely fulfillment, and effective communication with third-party suppliers.
• Coordinate intercompany site-to-site transfers between manufacturing locations, suppliers, and distribution centers, including oversight of monthly retests where applicable.
• Maintain accurate ERP transactions related to purchase orders, inventory movement, shipments, and transfers, ensuring data integrity and traceability.
• Identify and resolve supply chain issues, including shipment and invoice discrepancies, inventory variances, and vendor-related challenges.
• Manage key vendor and supplier relationships, fostering collaboration and ensuring clear communication on forecasts, orders, and performance expectations.
• Support inventory management activities, including monitoring inventory levels and coordinating replenishment to balance service and cost.
• Collaborate closely with Supply Chain, Operations, Sales, Finance, Product Management, and Customer Service teams to support day-to-day supply chain activities and resolve cross-functional issues.
• Communicate order status, shipment updates, and supply risks to internal stakeholders in a clear and timely manner.
• Leverage ERP systems and advanced Excel skills to analyze data, generate reports, and support decision-making for planning and procurement.
• Support logistics activities related to international shipping and customs documentation as needed.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing supply chain performance, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency.

Essential Skills

• Minimum 5+ years of experience in Supply Planning, Materials Planning, Purchasing, Production Planning, or Supply Chain Operations.
• Proven experience managing purchase orders, work orders, vendor relationships, and inventory movement.
• Strong hands-on experience with ERP systems; ability to maintain accurate transactions and use ERP data for planning and analysis.
• Advanced Excel skills, including the ability to manage and analyze large data sets and create reports to support supply chain decisions.
• Demonstrated experience tracking shipments and resolving supply chain issues, including shipment and invoice discrepancies.
• Experience coordinating transfers between manufacturing sites, suppliers, or distribution locations.
• Strong cross-functional communication skills, with the ability to provide clear, time-sensitive updates to stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and accuracy.
• Organized and detail-oriented approach, with a strong focus on supporting day-to-day supply chain activities.
• Experience working with dropship orders or third-party suppliers in a supply chain environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• ERP experience required; NetSuite experience strongly preferred.
• Experience in supply chain, logistics, procurement, supply chain management, supply planning, materials planning, purchase order management, vendor and supplier management, ERP systems, inventory management, shipment tracking, and site-to-site transfers.
• Experience in international shipping and customs documentation is beneficial.
• Experience working with contract manufacturers, co-packers, and third-party suppliers is preferred.
• Industry experience from manufacturing, medical device, life sciences, food production, consumer products, industrial, electronics, or distribution environments is welcome.
• Strong collaboration skills with Sales, Product Management, Customer Service, Operations, and Finance teams.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment with minimal supervision.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and a customer-focused mindset.

Work Environment

This is a fully onsite position in a collaborative, cross-functional environment that closely partners with Supply Chain, Operations, Sales, Finance, Product Management, and Customer Service teams. The standard schedule is Monday through Friday, typically 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with a preference for an 8:00 AM start; minimal to no overtime is expected. The role operates within an industry-leading life sciences organization known for nearly 50 years of innovation and continued growth through acquisitions and portfolio expansion. The work setting offers broad visibility across the business, exposure to global suppliers and manufacturing partners, and the opportunity to take ownership of a unique supply chain portfolio while directly influencing customer satisfaction and supply chain performance.

This is a Contract position based out of Newark, CA.

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $37.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Newark,CA.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 15, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.