Buyer / Planner III

Buyer / Planner III

Full-time / Permanent

Salaried $85k – $125k

*We are not currently working with third party agencies on this role.

About Us:

Vantedge Medical is the premier metals-based med-tech solutions partner from concept to full-scale manufacturing. We are at the forefront of precision engineering and innovation, specializing in the development and manufacturing of vital components for medical markets such as Robotic Assisted Surgery, Orthopedics, Surgical Instruments, Dental, and more. Our teams work in unison, collaborating and problem-solving to serve the manufacturing needs of the top Medical Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) around the globe. Making a difference in the lives of patients and their families drives us to go above and beyond every day. With a steadfast commitment to advancing medical technology, we take immense pride in the work we do – and have a lot of fun doing it.

About this Opportunity:

The Buyer/Planner III is responsible for managing MRP processes ensuring the timely release and execution of production work orders and supplier purchase orders. This position holds end-to-end accountability for optimizing supply and demand alignment, resolving production bottlenecks, and driving continuous improvement efforts. As a subject matter expert (SME) in MRP and capacity management, the Buyer/Planner III collaborates cross-functionally to improve delivery performance. The role also involves presenting insights and recommendations to leadership teams and providing thought leadership in process optimization.

Responsibilities:

Production Planning

• Manage MRP planner codes, ensuring accurate work order releases and seamless flow throughout the production process.
• Continuously monitor MRP outputs to identify and resolve supply and demand imbalances, ensuring uninterrupted production operations.
• Lead cross-functional efforts to identify root causes of customer delivery delays and implement corrective actions to improve on-time performance.
• Address bottlenecks in supply, production, and logistics to ensure smooth workflow and timely delivery.
• Oversee capacity planning at both the equipment and line levels, ensuring optimal resource utilization and production scheduling.
• Balance trade-offs between priorities, resource constraints, and customer demands to maintain production efficiency.

Purchasing

• Primary contact for supplier relationship management and escalations in quality, service, or cost.
• Creates and processes purchase orders, direct and indirect, in accordance with MRP or pull signals.
• Manage exceptions with suppliers such as pull-ins, push-outs, and cancels of purchase orders to support service levels and optimized inventory.
• Manage purchasing material master data in ERP.
• Resolve supplier invoice discrepancies.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead initiatives to enhance MRP processes, improve planning accuracy, and optimize work order and purchase order execution
• Drive improvements in inventory turnover and align stock levels with business objectives

Influential Leader and Challenge Status Quo

• Collaborate closely with account management, production, and logistics teams to align supply chain operations with customer delivery priorities.
• Act as a key influencer in meetings, providing insights and leadership to drive cross-functional problem-solving efforts.
• Prepare and deliver presentations to management teams on supply chain performance, root cause analyses, and corrective actions.
• Communicate effectively with cross-functional stakeholders, offering data-driven recommendations and solutions.

Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, engineering, operations management, or related field
• 4+ years proven experience in production planning and purchasing
• 4+ years of ERP/MRP systems experience
• 6+ years of supply chain experience

Knowledge & Skills:

• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make informed decisions under pressure
• Strong knowledge of production planning and purchasing principles, methodologies, and tools
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to prioritize and multi-task effectively
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate and influence cross-functional teams
• Proactive mindset and ability to anticipate potential production and purchasing issues and implement preventive measures
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies is desirable
• APICS certification a plus