Associate Buyer Planner

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Use statistical methods and software (ForecastPro) to develop accurate demand planning forecasts globally for the brands you own in your Product Franchise.
• Own the standard demand planning cycle for brands you own and conduct global demand consensus review(s) with sales, marketing, and other relevant departments to gather demand forecasts and market insights.
• Manage advanced planning parameters to ensure optimal net requirements planning and upload demand forecasts as applicable.
• Work with Finance to ensure the demand plan aligns with financial growth targets by brand and course correct as needed.
• Own and improve the forecasting process for the Product Franchise.
• Use historical data, market trends, and predictive analytics to generate accurate demand forecasts.
• Evaluate and own the accuracy of demand forecasts, adjusting as necessary to minimize forecast errors leading to stockouts, back orders, or excess and obsolete inventory.
• Participate in the implementation and enhancement of supply chain planning tools and software.
• Understand various warehouses, inventory, and planning data in SAP.
• Lead bid evaluations, contract awards, contract negotiations, and ongoing supplier relationship management activities for assigned material categories.
• Assess supplier capability, capacity, and cost to allocate annual spend to qualified suppliers optimizing service, quality, and cost.
• Visit existing and potential supplier facilities to evaluate manufacturing processes, capabilities, recent investments, potential for growth, and performance trends.
• Lead regular supplier production reviews to ensure needed capacity and on-time delivery.
• Review net requirements against supply and demand; manage open order exceptions with your Product Franchise.
• Monitor inventory levels to mitigate stockouts while maintaining cost effective operational expenses.
• Coordinate new supplier qualification activities.
• Plan, organize, control, and execute new product introduction projects on time including oversight of supply chains and forecasted demand for Legacy and NPI products.
• Manage, with your Product Franchise, the annual spend budget to ensure purchase pace is achieved for inventory and instruments.
• Regularly review KPIs; develop and execute strategies to address unfavorable results.
• Identify and lead closure of business process gaps; collaborate with stakeholders to drive business process improvement for planning and inventory.
• Act as a liaison between suppliers and internal departments such as Engineering, Quality, Marketing, and Finance.
• Understand and act upon Operational KPIs including working capital, inventory turns, DOH/MOH, E&O, and financial reporting.
• Professionally present information orally or in written format (MS Word, MS PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Ensure that all activities are carried out in accordance with company policies and practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education/Experience Requirements

• Four-year Degree (B.S/B.A.) required.
• 0 - 3 years of experience in related field such as supply planning, purchasing, or supply chain.
• APICS CSCP/CPIM certification preferred.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, including advance level Excel skills.
• Highly effective communication skills.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong time management skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, prioritize appropriately and handle multiple tasks and projects simultaneously with various cross functional teams.
• SAP experience preferred.
• Previous medical device experience preferred.