Buyer/Planner

Job Title: Buyer/Supply Planner

Job Description

This role leads the end-to-end supply planning function for a global business, owning the weekly and monthly supply plan over a 12‑month horizon. You will drive strategic material cost improvements, ensure continuity of supply for critical materials, and champion supplier quality and delivery performance. The position requires close collaboration with commercial, operations, sourcing, and supply chain teams to align supply, demand, and inventory, while using data-driven tools and continuous improvement methodologies to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and executive decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Lead weekly business-level PSI reviews in partnership with commercial counterparts to align supply, demand, and inventory plans.
• Own and maintain the weekly and monthly supply plan for the entire business over a 12‑month horizon, reconciling it against demand and sales plans.
• Develop and execute strategic plans to achieve material cost improvements across the global supply base.
• Champion supplier quality and delivery issues from identification through to resolution, ensuring minimal impact on operations.
• Partner with key vendors to secure long-term supply of critical materials based on demand plans.
• Collaborate with global sourcing teams to escalate supply shortages to executive management and minimize disruptions to supply continuity.
• Drive synergy and collaboration with other sites within broader supply chain teams to standardize best practices and improve performance.
• Become proficient in internal planning and supply chain tools and champion continuous improvement initiatives in quality, delivery, and cost.
• Maintain optimal inventory levels to meet demand expectations, minimizing stock-outs while maximizing inventory turns.
• Develop tools and analytics to predict future supply risks, increase accuracy in supply planning, and provide insight for executive decision-making.
• Prepare and deliver clear presentations and recommendations to senior leadership and key stakeholders to influence planning decisions.
• Utilize ERP systems, including Oracle (ideally Oracle Fusion), to manage purchasing, procurement, and supply planning activities.
• Use advanced Excel capabilities, including pivot tables, to perform data analysis, reporting, and forecasting.
• Support and participate in continuous improvement initiatives, including lean conversions, to enhance supply chain efficiency.
• Coordinate with operations and commercial teams to ensure alignment across PSI/SIOP/IBP and related planning processes.

Essential Skills

• 5+ years of experience owning the supply planning function, including oversight of inventory levels and collaboration with operations and commercial teams (PSI/SIOP/IBP or similar).
• Proven experience managing and optimizing inventory levels to balance service, stock-outs, and inventory turns.
• Hands-on experience with purchasing, procurement, and purchase order management within a supply chain environment.
• Proficiency with ERP systems, specifically Oracle, with a strong preference for experience in Oracle Fusion.
• Advanced Excel skills, including building and using pivot tables for data analysis and reporting.
• Strong knowledge of PSI, SIOP, IBP, or similar integrated planning processes and the ability to explain and apply these concepts.
• Experience in data entry, forecasting, material planning, and generating accurate supply and demand reports.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic planning efforts over a 3–18 month horizon.
• Strong presentation skills and the ability to make clear recommendations and influence senior leadership and other key stakeholders.
• 3+ years of experience using continuous improvement tools and methodologies, including lean conversions.
• Proven ability to manage logistics, inventory management, and vendor management within a supply chain context.
• Strong negotiation skills to support material cost improvements and supplier performance.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with a focus on data-driven planning.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in a global supply base environment, partnering with key vendors for critical materials.
• Background in supply chain management, logistics, or a related discipline.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams across multiple sites to drive supply chain synergy and standardization.
• Familiarity with continuous improvement cultures and the ability to champion initiatives in quality, delivery, and cost.
• Comfort working with executive-level stakeholders and presenting complex supply chain data in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to develop tools, dashboards, or reports that provide visibility into supply risks and planning accuracy.

Work Environment

This is an onsite role with a standard schedule of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You will work in a professional office and operations environment, collaborating closely with commercial, sourcing, and supply chain teams. The role involves frequent use of ERP systems such as Oracle (ideally Oracle Fusion), advanced Excel tools, and internal planning platforms to manage supply, inventory, and vendor performance. The environment supports continuous improvement and cross-site collaboration, with regular meetings and reviews focused on PSI/SIOP/IBP processes and supply chain performance.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Springfield, VA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $38.00 - $43.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Springfield,VA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 4, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.