Senior Buyer / Planner

Location: Long Beach, CA
Job Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire
Schedule: Monday–Friday, Onsite
Salary: $75,000–$95,000 per year

Job Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Buyer / Planner to take ownership of purchasing, material planning, supplier management, and inventory coordination. This is a newly created, highly visible position within a growing organization. The Senior Buyer / Planner will be responsible for ensuring materials and components are purchased at the right cost, in the right quantities, and delivered on time to support production and operational requirements. The ideal candidate has 3–5+ years of hands-on purchasing and planning experience within a manufacturing environment and is comfortable independently managing the purchasing cycle from material requirements through supplier delivery.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day purchasing and material planning activities.

• Determine purchasing requirements based on inventory levels, demand, open orders, lead times, and production needs.

• Create, issue, and manage purchase orders from placement through delivery.

• Monitor open purchase orders and proactively follow up with suppliers regarding delivery schedules.

• Expedite critical materials and address potential shortages before they impact production.

• Maintain strong relationships with existing suppliers and serve as a primary point of contact for purchasing matters.

• Negotiate supplier pricing, lead times, minimum order quantities, terms, and delivery schedules.

• Obtain and evaluate supplier quotes based on cost, quality, lead time, and availability.

• Source and evaluate new suppliers as needed.

• Monitor inventory levels and material availability to identify purchasing requirements, shortages, and excess inventory.

• Utilize ERP/MRP systems to maintain accurate purchasing, inventory, and planning information.

• Coordinate with Operations, Production, Engineering, Warehouse, Accounting, and other departments regarding material requirements.

• Resolve supplier, receiving, pricing, quantity, and delivery discrepancies.

• Analyze purchasing activity, pricing, lead times, and supplier performance to identify cost-saving and process-improvement opportunities.

• Help establish and improve purchasing and material planning processes as the function continues to develop.

• Maintain accurate purchasing, supplier, pricing, and order documentation.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of purchasing, procurement, buyer/planner, or related supply chain experience.

• Previous purchasing experience within a manufacturing environment strongly preferred.

• Hands-on experience managing purchase orders and supplier relationships from start to finish.

• Experience with material planning, inventory management, MRP, or production-related purchasing.

• Strong vendor management and negotiation skills.

• Experience using ERP/MRP or purchasing systems.

• Strong Excel and analytical skills.

• Ability to independently manage multiple suppliers, open orders, priorities, and deadlines.

• Strong problem-solving, organization, communication, and follow-through skills.

• Ability to proactively identify material shortages, supplier issues, and potential production constraints.

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.

Preferred Experience

• Experience purchasing components or materials within an electronics, electromechanical, industrial equipment, aerospace/defense, or similar manufacturing environment.

• Experience working with Bills of Materials (BOMs).

• Knowledge of inventory planning, forecasting, safety stock, reorder points, and supplier lead-time management.

• Experience sourcing and qualifying new suppliers.

• Demonstrated success negotiating supplier pricing, reducing costs, improving lead times, or increasing material availability.

KPG123