Buyer/Planner

Company: PlayCore Seatings

Job Location: Lakeland, FL

Work Setting: In-Person

Compensation: Hourly

The Buyer/Planner supports the Company Mission and Values through handling all raw materials, equipment and other supplies needed for the company operations to run.

• Purchase goods, materials, components and services in line with specified cost, quality and delivery to meet organizational targets and requirements.
• Review daily and weekly requirements to ensure right sized supply of required goods, materials and services and communicate any supply problems which may pose a risk or impact on business operations.
• Perform PO maintenance (confirmations, review date changes, on time delivery) to proactively compare supply to demand.
• Manage supplier relationships, agreements to maintain ownership of the goods, materials and services required for business operations.
• Contact suppliers to resolve price, quality, delivery or invoice issues.
• Research and evaluate areas of opportunity and reduce costs where possible.
• Monitor inventory, research transactions, bills of material to maintain accurate inventory levels.
• 
  Calculate anticipated material loss from size of material compared to length of product produced. Review to mitigate loss and submit scrap journal.
• Work with cross functional teams of production, quality, sales and engineering.
• Ability to led meetings or projects with cross functional groups.
• Source new parts, manage revision of product changes, manage possible new product launch requirements.
• Monitor market trends, competitor strategies and market suppliers.
• Negotiate contracts, improved prices and terms of business with suppliers and review opportunities to make business savings utilizing negotiation and procurement best practice tools and methods.
• Assess and evaluate suppliers and undertake performance reviews to ensure contract compliance and manage performance improvement activities.
• Explore alternate sources for goods and material.
• Undertake research on and evaluate existing and new supplier.
• Assess tenders and quotations from potential supplier.
• Deliver briefs, updates and reports as and when required.
• Develop ideas and strategies to improve operational efficiency, and value, aid business performance and work towards a strategy of continuous improvement.
• Ensure that a professional and consistent approach is taken in relation to all supplier relationships.
• Other duties may be assigned by Manager as needed.

• Analytical Decision-Making
• Communication
• Learning & Development
• Planning & Organizing
• Professionalism & Integrity
• Financial Management
• Risk-Taking/Creative Thinking
• Teamwork & Relationship-Building
• Results Orientation

• Requires a bachelor's degree in business or a Management related field.
• Preferably 6+ years of related experience, or a combination of education and experience.
• Import sourcing experience is a plus
• Prior experience with MRP systems including setup, monitoring and maintenance.
• Experience in setting up and working in Lean production environments with a visual pull system.
• Sales & Operations Planning experience including forecasting, inventory planning and capacity evaluation.
• Detail-orientated
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to read and understand engineering drawings

• Some travel required.

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, supplier contact documents and procedure manuals. Must have the ability to write routine reports and correspondence as well as be able to speak effectively before groups of suppliers, customers or employees of the organization.

• Must have the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variable in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of technical instructions in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

• To perform this job successfully, and individual should demonstrate a proficiency with MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Access. Experience with Microsoft Dynamics AX is a strong plus.

• Professional e-mail, written and oral communication is required.

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will frequently walk and sit; use hands and fingers, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or listen.
• The employee will occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. (50lbs is the max)
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in the office setting. The manufacturing environment will be noisy, climate is less controlled and where PPE will be required.

PlayCore and its family of brands considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status.