International Buyer​/Planner

Description

About Barco Products:

At Barco Products, we're more than just a company; we're a team of dedicated people passionate about providing our customers with exceptional experiences. From high-quality products to personalized service, we've built our business on innovation and strong relationships. We believe in going the extra mile for our customers, ensuring they feel confident and supported every step of the way.

Since 1985, Barco has been committed to innovating and providing high-quality, functionally designed, and durable commercial site furnishings and amenities. We're not a supplier - we're a trusted industry leader known for our dedicated customer service.

We design, manufacture, and sell a wide selection of commercial-grade products, including:

• Picnic tables
• Park benches
• Speed bumps and wheel stops
• Waste receptacles
• Parking lot supplies
• ...and much more!

Position Summary

The International Buyer/Planner is responsible for sourcing and managing the end-to-end supply of overseas finished goods, from supplier selection and production coordination through freight delivery and payment. This role owns the purchasing and planning cycle for imported product lines, negotiating cost and terms with overseas suppliers, coordinating with freight forwarders and customs brokers to ensure on-time delivery, and partnering with Finance to ensure accurate and timely supplier payments.

The International Buyer/Planner works closely with Quality, Engineering, Production, and Sales to ensure imported goods meet specification, lead-time, and cost targets, and serves as the primary point of contact for assigned overseas suppliers.

Core Responsibilities

1. Import Sourcing & Supplier Coordination

• Source and manage a portfolio of overseas suppliers for finished goods, ensuring alignment with product specifications, cost targets, and quality standards.
• Place, track, and expedite international purchase orders, confirming production schedules and resolving order discrepancies.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, conducting regular business reviews and escalating performance issues as needed.

2. Production, Quality & Lead Time Management

• Coordinate with suppliers throughout the production cycle to confirm capacity, monitor progress against production schedules, and flag delays early.
• Partner with Quality to establish inspection requirements (pre-production, inline, and pre-shipment) and resolve nonconformance issues with suppliers.
• Track and report supplier lead times, on-time delivery, and fill-rate performance; drive corrective action plans for underperforming suppliers.
• Maintain accurate item master and supplier lead-time data in the ERP system to support planning accuracy.

3. Cost Negotiation & Cost Management

• Negotiate unit costs, tooling costs, minimum order quantities, and payment terms with overseas suppliers to meet target margins.
• Conduct should-cost analysis and benchmark pricing to identify negotiation leverage and cost-reduction opportunities.
• Lead or support annual cost-reduction and dual-sourcing initiatives in partnership with Engineering and Quality.

4. Freight Forwarding & Logistics Coordination

• Coordinate with freight forwarders and customs brokers to schedule ocean and air shipments and ensure on-time delivery to the U.S.
• Manage shipping documentation (commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, certificates of origin) for accuracy and compliance.
• Track container and vessel schedules, proactively communicating delays or port congestion to Planning, Production, and Sales.
• Identify freight routing and consolidation opportunities to reduce landed cost and transit time.

5. Trade Compliance & Import Documentation

• Ensure import transactions comply with U.S. Customs regulations, correct HTS classification, and applicable tariffs, including Section 301 duties.
• Maintain accurate HTS codes, country‑of‑origin records, and duty documentation for each SKU.
• Maintain supplier compliance files, including trade agreements, quality certifications, and social/ethical compliance documentation.

6. Finance, Payments & Supplier Terms

• Work with Finance and suppliers to ensure timely, accurate payments, including wire transfers, letters of credit, and open account terms.
• Reconcile supplier invoices against purchase orders and shipping documents; resolve pricing or quantity discrepancies.
• Monitor payment terms and foreign exchange exposure to support cash flow objectives.
• Support month‑end accruals and cost reporting for open purchase orders and…