Buyer and Inventory Planning Analyst

LHH Recruitment Solutions has partnered with a growing organization, and they are seeking a motivated Buyer and Inventory Planning Analyst – Distribution Environment to join their team. This is an excellent opportunity for a purchasing professional who enjoys combining hands‑on buying responsibilities with inventory analysis, demand planning, replenishment, supplier management, and cost optimization. This position is ideal for someone who can look beyond day‑to‑day purchase order activity and use data to improve product availability, inventory performance, and purchasing decisions.

The successful candidate will take ownership of the purchasing cycle, evaluate demand and usage patterns, monitor inventory levels, coordinate with suppliers, and collaborate with internal distribution and operational teams.

The Buyer and Inventory Planning Analyst will be responsible for purchasing products and materials required to support customer demand and distribution operations. This individual will analyze forecasts, inventory positions, replenishment requirements, supplier lead times, and purchasing trends to determine what products should be ordered, when orders should be placed, and the appropriate quantities to purchase. The role requires someone who is comfortable working independently, responding to changing priorities, and making well‑supported purchasing decisions in a fast‑moving environment.

The Buyer and Inventory Planning Analyst will also help improve supplier performance, reduce purchasing and freight costs, resolve supply issues, and strengthen inventory controls.

• Manage purchasing activities from demand review and replenishment analysis through purchase order creation, supplier follow‑up, delivery, and receipt.
• Analyze customer demand, historical usage, inventory availability, open orders, purchasing patterns, and supplier lead times to support replenishment decisions.
• Evaluate inventory requirements and proactively place orders to maintain product availability while minimizing excess, obsolete, and slow‑moving inventory.
• Monitor inventory levels across the distribution network and identify potential shortages, overstock situations, or unusual ordering activity.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with suppliers while addressing pricing, availability, lead times, service performance, delivery concerns, and product discrepancies.
• Coordinate with operations, logistics, customer service, finance, and other internal stakeholders to align purchasing and inventory plans with customer requirements.
• Track open purchase orders, confirm expected delivery dates, communicate changes, and elevate supply risks that could affect product availability or customer service.
• Resolve shortages, shipment variances, pricing discrepancies, freight issues, quantity differences, and other purchasing or receiving concerns.
• Maintain accurate product costs, purchasing terms, supplier information, item data, and related documentation within the company’s ERP system.
• Compare supplier pricing options, including origin‑based pricing and delivered pricing, to determine the most cost‑effective total landed cost.
• Partner with logistics and distribution teams to evaluate transportation expenses and identify opportunities to reduce inbound freight costs.
• Review supplier performance, purchasing spend, inventory movement, inventory turns, and other key supply chain metrics.
• Prepare recurring and ad hoc analyses related to purchasing, replenishment, supplier performance, product availability, spend, and inventory health.
• Identify irregularities in ordering or consumption patterns and collaborate with internal teams to determine the cause and appropriate corrective action.
• Support strategic sourcing efforts, supplier evaluations, contract compliance, and cost‑reduction initiatives.
• Contribute to process improvement projects focused on purchasing controls, inventory accuracy, workflow efficiency, reporting, and supplier performance.
• Maintain complete and accurate purchasing records in accordance with internal controls, company policies, and audit requirements.

• Bachelor’s Degree in…