Buying​/Planning Specialist

Position: 08 - Buying/Planning Specialist
Req

Region:
Americas

Country: USA

State/Province:
Minnesota

City:  Maple Grove

** Summary*
* Incumbents apply in-depth knowledge in a specific area of specialization. Work is performed within established professional standards and practices. Works on problems of moderate scope where analysis of situations or data requires a review of identifiable factors and a considerable degree of judgement. Erroneous decisions or failure to achieve results may have a negative impact on the divisions/departments operations, schedules, and/or performance goals.

Works under minimum Supervision. Seeks approval from others on matters outside of job/role scope. Receives instruction on specific assignment objectives and possible solutions. Unusual problems are solved jointly with manager. Work is reviewed for application of sound technical judgment. May lead a work group or project team consisting of technical and support staff. Builds internal and external relationships, with emphasis on those that facilitate the achievement of job/role accountabilities, such as relationships with key suppliers, customers and internal service.

** Detailed Description*
* Performs tasks such as, but not limited to, the following:

+ Validate supplier quotes against customer Purchase Orders (PO) upon arrival to ensure pricing accuracy and compliance. Resolve discrepancies in supplier invoices and receipts in a timely manner.

+ Maintain responsibility for the integrity of the Item Master file, ensuring all material data is accurate and updated on a quarterly basis.

+ Analyze Bills of Material (BOM) for cost competitiveness and collaborate closely with Engineering, Program Management, and Commodity Management to validate costed BOMs for accuracy and alignment with market trends.

+ Consolidate, tabulate, and analyze commitment and performance metrics to report on supplier effectiveness and procurement status.

+ Plans for and procures materials necessary to meet manufacturing build requirements for one or several product lines.

+ Plans and schedules timely material required for customer forecasts.

+ Determines material requirements from engineering and production schedules and coordinate the efficient movement of materials throughout the production cycle.

+ Reviews requisitions, contacts vendors, examines bids and initiates contracts.

+ Initiates purchases driven through MRP process.

+ Assesses when to execute and what order to place based on other factors.

+ Pushes or cancels orders per production plans.

+ Reviews forecasted requirements and purchases materials in accordance with that forecast.

+ Ensures materials are available to meet manufacturing build requirements.

+ Matches material infeed and inventory turnover so as not to hold too high a percentage of inventory at any time.

+ Helps establish new supplier accounts with finance department. Investigates and resolves issues with invoices or suppliers.

+ Acts as a customer liaison with new product introduction. Introduces the new product through manufacturing to shipping per customer requirements

** Knowledge/Skills/Competencies*
* + Ability to consolidate, manipulate, and analyze large quantities of data with a high degree of accuracy.

+ Strong knowledge of basic computer applications, with the ability to quickly learn and utilize multiple department-specific applications, including ERP systems and office suites with  
** excellent knowledge of EXCEL:
** pivot tables, Vlookups, Ifs, sumifs, countifs, sum product, nested formulas, and power queries.

+ Extensive knowledge of procurement processes, inventory management and supplier management.

+ Knowledge of an electronic manufacturing environment, the types of materials being purchased by the department and the engineering change process.

+ Good negotiation and problem resolution skills.

+ Ability to plan strategically for the coordinated delivery of a variety of materials.

+ Ability to handle multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail and accuracy and working under tight time deadlines.

+ Ability to evaluate, prioritize and problem solve a variety of tasks to ensure their timely and accurate completion.

+ Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with a wide variety of internal and external customers.

** Physical Demands*
* + Duties of this position are performed in a normal office environment.

+ Duties may require extended periods of sitting and sustained visual concentration on a computer monitor or on numbers and other detailed data.

+ Repetitive manual…