Buyer​/Planner

Buyer / Planner

Racecar Manufacturer|Design, Build & Development Operations

Plainfield, IN (onsite)

On behalf of our client, a growing racecar manufacturer, we are seeking an experienced Buyer / Planner to lead day-to-day purchasing and production planning.

This is a high-priority opening with one of the region's most exciting manufacturers — a company that designs, builds, and fields its own racecars. The Buyer / Planner will take ownership of purchasing and planning so company leadership can focus on broader operational growth, making this arole that interacts with nearly every department in the business.

• Supports two primary product lines and manages approximately 1,700 to 2,500 parts/SKUs.
• Operates within a prototype manufacturing environment, where new parts and design changes happen frequently.
• Most components are purchased finished or fabricated through an established, primarily domestic supplier base of 10 to 15 key suppliers — this is not a heavy raw-material purchasing or in-house fabrication role.
• Current production target is approximately two cars per month, with each build taking roughly three weeks.
• Inventory levels are maintained generously, with a target of approximately three to six car sets of parts on hand.

• Receive CAD files and design requirements, then work directly with suppliers to source and purchase components.
• Create and manage purchase orders, including pricing, delivery dates, quantities, and terms.
• Review historical demand and determine appropriate purchasing quantities and timing.
• Monitor supplier performance related to quality, cost, delivery, and responsiveness, and build strong working relationships with key suppliers.
• Develop and maintain production plans based on demand, inventory levels, and material availability.
• Coordinate closely with engineering, production, and quality teams to support new part introductions, prototype builds, and engineering changes.
• Monitor inventory levels, investigate discrepancies, and help minimize excess or obsolete stock.
• Maintain accurate purchasing and planning records within the company's warehouse/ERP system.

Automotive or motorsports experience is not required, and a college degree is not required. Our client is open to candidates with a few years of relevant experience, early-career candidates, or career changers with transferable purchasing or supplier-facing backgrounds. Product and automotive knowledge can be learned on the job — it typically takes about six months to build strong familiarity with the parts.

Prior experience should include:

• Working within an ERP or purchasing system and creating purchase orders.
• Communicating directly with suppliers, including by phone.
• Intermediate Excel skills and professional written communication.

The ideal candidate will also bring:

• A positive attitude, curiosity, and a genuine willingness to learn quickly.
• Comfort working through ambiguity and gray areas, with sound judgment rather than relying solely on system-generated requisitions.
• Strong relationship-building and conversational skills.
• An entrepreneurial mindset — this role thrives with flexible problem-solvers and may not be the right fit for those who prefer highly structured, black-and-white processes.
• Knowledge of metals and materials is a plus when partnering with engineering on new parts, and supplier negotiation experience is helpful but secondary to relationship-building.