Electronicsearch

New Job Opportunity: Buyer-Planner 3 – Salem, OR

Contact: Al Born      Ref: 8104

Job Summary:

• The Buyer-Planner 3 is an experienced, senior-level individual contributor responsible for managing advanced procurement, material planning, vendor coordination, and ERP-driven purchasing activities in support of production, project schedules, customer commitments, and company cost objectives.
• Reporting to the Purchasing Manager, this position is responsible for obtaining pricing, preparing and processing purchase orders, coordinating delivery of equipment, supplies, raw materials, subcontracted services, and other materials necessary for the company to produce and process manufactured goods. The Buyer-Planner 3 is expected to manage more complex, higher-value, higher-volume, or time-sensitive purchasing and planning activities with greater independence than Buyer-Planner 1 and Buyer-Planner 2 positions.
• This role works cross-functionally with Purchasing, Project Coordination, Drafting, Estimating, Production, Master Scheduling, Quality, and management to ensure material requirements are accurate, supplier commitments are aligned with project deadlines, and issues are identified and resolved before they impact production or customer delivery.
• The Buyer-Planner 3 is expected to use ERP/MRP signals, project requirements, supplier information, market conditions, inventory data, and internal communication to make sound purchasing and planning decisions within established company guidelines. This position also supports vendor development, supplier performance improvement, bid analysis, process improvement, and functional guidance for less experienced Buyer-Planner employees.

Job Scope:

• This position handles recurring and non-recurring work situations involving moderate to high complexity. The Buyer-Planner 3 is expected to work with a higher degree of independence, judgment, prioritization, and ownership than lower-level Buyer-Planner positions while still operating under the general direction of the Purchasing Manager and established company procedures.
• Duties may involve complex vendor issues, changing project requirements, long-lead materials, pricing fluctuations, customer-driven schedule changes, budget constraints, supplier delays, material substitutions, inventory concerns, and cross-functional coordination. The position can expect periodic stressful situations requiring calm communication, timely escalation, and sound problem-solving.
• Errors in accuracy, judgment, service, communication, purchasing decisions, vendor coordination, or professionalism may affect production schedules, customer satisfaction, project profitability, vendor relationships, inventory accuracy, company staff efficiency, and trust levels across departments.
• The Buyer-Planner 3 is not a management position and does not have direct supervisory authority. However, the position may provide functional guidance, training support, and day-to-day assistance to Buyer-Planner 1 and Buyer-Planner 2 employees.

Essential Functions/Major Duties:

• Manage advanced purchasing and planning activities for materials, supplies, equipment, subcontracted services, and other items required to support production and project schedules.
• Review ERP/MRP demand, project requirements, work orders, inventory levels, lead times, and production schedules to determine appropriate purchasing and planning actions.
• Prepare, process, review, and manage purchase orders for complex, high-value, high-volume, long-lead, or time-sensitive materials.
• Negotiate pricing, delivery schedules, terms, and issue resolution with vendors within established authority levels and company guidelines.
• Analyze supplier quotes, lead times, freight considerations, delivery risks, technical requirements, and total cost impact to support sound purchasing decisions.
• Prepare bid summaries, supplier comparisons, and purchase recommendations requiring management review or approval.
• Coordinate with Estimating to support accurate material costs, lead times, supplier input, and purchasing assumptions for current and future work.
• Coordinate with Project Coordination, Drafting, Production, Master Scheduling, and other internal teams to confirm material requirements, resolve discrepancies, and support project deadlines.
• Review ERP data, project system information, purchasing records, inventory records, and supplier commitments for accuracy, completeness, and timely updates.
• Identify ERP, MRP, work order, bill of material, inventory, or project setup issues and coordinate with the appropriate internal teams to correct them.
• Generate, monitor, and support work orders to ensure alignment with production needs and material availability.
• Monitor open purchase orders, delivery dates, supplier confirmations, backorders, shortages, substitutions, and expediting needs.
• Proactively identify material availability, pricing, delivery, vendor capacity, or schedule risks and recommend solutions.
• Qualify new vendors, maintain vendor records, and support vendor development to meet company needs, quality standards, schedule requirements, and AISC-related specifications.
• Maintain a current log of qualified vendors and support ongoing review of vendor status, documentation, and performance.
• Review purchase order claims, supplier issues, and contract-related documents for conformance with company policy and management direction.
• Analyze market conditions, pricing trends, delivery systems, and supplier performance to assess present and future material availability and cost impact.
• Participate in inventory planning, forecast planning, raw material planning, and material availability reviews.
• Oversee tracking and updating of NetSuite inventory information for raw materials and related purchasing/planning records.
• Support management with purchasing reports, supplier information, inventory updates, cost summaries, delivery risk updates, and supply chain analysis.
• Monitor purchasing activity and project expenditures against approved budgets, escalating concerns or variances as appropriate.
• Participate in scheduling meetings and provide accurate purchasing, supplier, material availability, and delivery status updates.
• Support the development of specifications for equipment, products, substitute materials, or alternate sourcing options.
• Arrange for disposal of surplus materials when appropriate and approved.
• Recommend and support improvements to purchasing, planning, vendor management, ERP data accuracy, reporting, and communication processes.
• Serve as a senior resource for purchasing and planning questions within the department.
• Provide functional guidance, training support, and knowledge-sharing to Buyer-Planner 1 and Buyer-Planner 2 employees.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Purchasing Manager, General Manager, Operations Manager, and/or President.

Secondary Functions:

• Provide or facilitate technical assistance and logistics support to customers, vendors, and internal stakeholders by phone, e-mail, or in person.
• Assist with project file setup, new order entry, project due date coordination, and document control when needed.
• Support vendor issue resolution, including late deliveries, incorrect materials, pricing discrepancies, quality concerns, or documentation gaps.
• Assist with special projects, supply chain reporting, process documentation, and department improvement initiatives.
• Support cross-training and continuity of purchasing and planning knowledge within the department.

Specific Skills:

• Advanced purchasing, planning, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• Strong understanding of ERP/MRP-driven purchasing and planning processes.
• Ability to manage complex material requirements, competing priorities, and time-sensitive purchasing needs.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to convey technical, purchasing, scheduling, and business information clearly and professionally.
• Strong vendor management skills, including vendor qualification, quote comparison, supplier follow-up, issue resolution, and relationship management.
• Ability to review RFQs, specifications, lead times, schedules, purchase orders, supplier terms, and project requirements.
• Ability to analyze supplier quotes, bid options, delivery risks, budget impacts, and material substitution options.
• Knowledge of contract review, bid analysis, supplier performance tracking, and purchasing documentation.
• Ability to identify risks, present options, and recommend practical solutions while escalating major decisions when appropriate.
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, including the ability to evaluate alternatives and determine the best option for company needs.
• Ability to balance on-time delivery, cost control, quality requirements, shipment consolidation, inventory levels, and project deadlines.
• Ability to present options and expected outcomes in an unbiased manner to management for decision-making.
• Ability to maintain a mature, professional, and positive demeanor during stressful situations with customers, vendors, subcontractors, or internal teams.
• Ability to maintain cooperative working relationships with employees, customers, subcontractors, and vendors.
• Strong time management, organizational, planning, and follow-through skills.
• Ability to work with tight time frames and changing priorities.
• Ability to monitor and assess personal performance and make improvements where necessary.
• Knowledge of the company’s products, services, quality expectations, and professional service standards.
• Knowledge of the telecommunications, steel, utility, or manufacturing industries.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, ERP systems, and specialty database systems.
• Oracle/NetSuite experience preferred.
• Ability to determine how money will be spent within approved project budgets and monitor expenditures accordingly.
• Ability to actively look for ways to help other people and support the success of the team.

Standards of Performance

• Communicates critical purchasing, planning, supplier, schedule, and material issues to supervisors and coworkers in person, by telephone, in writing, or by e-mail.
• Maintains good working relationships with employees, customers, subcontractors, and vendors.
• Consistently recognizes priorities and acts with appropriate urgency.
• Demonstrates planning and organizational skills that support the achievement of company goals.
• Completes purchasing and planning work accurately, timely, and professionally.
• Maintains accurate purchasing records, vendor records, project information, ERP data, and inventory-related updates.
• Provides reliable updates on material availability, delivery commitments, supplier risks, and purchasing status.
• Supports production and project schedules by proactively identifying and resolving material or supplier issues.
• Demonstrates sound judgment in balancing cost, schedule, quality, inventory, and customer needs.
• Escalates significant risks, budget concerns, supplier problems, or policy exceptions to management in a timely manner.
• Supports continuous improvement in purchasing, planning, vendor management, reporting, and department processes.
• Maintains and develops positive business relationships with new, existing, and growth vendors.
• Provides effective support, guidance, and knowledge-sharing to less experienced Buyer-Planner employees.
• Absenteeism and tardiness less than 2%.

Education and/or Experience:

• Seven or more years of experience in supply chain, purchasing, procurement, material planning, production planning, vendor management, or a closely related role; experience in wireless, steel, utility, telecommunications, fabrication, or manufacturing environments preferred. Bachelor’s degree in business or marketing.
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, Logistics, Marketing, or a related field preferred.
• Additional directly related experience may substitute for degree requirements, subject to company policy and HR approval.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex purchasing, supplier coordination, material planning, lead-time management, quote comparison, and schedule-driven procurement.
• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems required; Oracle/NetSuite experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Experience with vendor qualification, supplier documentation, AISC-related requirements, or quality-driven supplier controls preferred.
• Experience providing functional guidance, training support, or day-to-day assistance to less experienced team members preferred.

Compensation: Based on Experience

Email resume to resume@electronicsearch.com and put Ref# 8104 in the subject line.