Buyer/Planner

Cohu, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Cohu, Inc. in San Diego is seeking an experienced procurement professional to lead sourcing, planning, and supplier management for manufacturing and NPI projects. You will establish supplier relationships, evaluate capabilities, and drive cost reduction while ensuring on-time delivery and quality.

The role involves close collaboration with engineering, quality, and operations teams. Ideal candidates have at least 5 years in purchasing and materials management in manufacturing, strong ERP/MRP

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain management, operations management, engineering, or related field or equivalent experience.
• APICS/ASCM CPIM/CSCP certification preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of purchasing, planning, and materials management experience in manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain primary and alternate sources of supply to meet operational, production, and project requirements.
• Obtain quotations, prepare and analyze RFQs, and award purchase orders.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, terms, and supplier agreements.
• Evaluate suppliers' capabilities to mitigate business risk.
• Maintain supplier relationships and monitor performance metrics.
• Support Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) programs and supplier inventory initiatives.
• Review material requirements and release purchase orders to support schedules.
• Monitor inventory levels and coordinate procurement to meet production needs.
• Work with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Program Management to meet timelines.
• Coordinate procurement for prototype builds and NPI activities.

Skills

Negotiation

Supplier relationship management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Multitasking

Detail-oriented

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain management, operations management, engineering, or related field

APICS/ASCM CPIM/CSCP or equivalent

Tools

Oracle ERP

SAP ERP

Syspro

Excel

Job description

Establish and maintain primary and alternate sources of supply to meet operational, production, and project requirements.

Obtain quotations, prepare and analyze RFQs, and award purchase orders based on price, quality, delivery, service, and supplier performance.

Negotiate pricing, contracts, terms and conditions, and supplier agreements.

Evaluate suppliers' technical, operational, financial, and quality capabilities to mitigate business risk.

Maintain supplier relationships and monitor supplier performance metrics including quality, delivery, responsiveness, and cost.

Contact suppliers regarding new products, technologies, and cost reduction opportunities.

Perform purchase order follow-up and expediting activities to ensure delivery commitments are met.

Negotiate settlements related to rejected, damaged, or non‑conforming materials when appropriate.

Support Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) programs and supplier inventory initiatives.

Maintain auditable purchasing records consistent with company policies and procedures.

Planning & Material Management

Review material requirements and MRP action messages daily.

Release purchase orders and execute planning actions required to support engineering and production schedules.

Monitor inventory levels and ensure adequate supply of materials to support production and customer requirements.

Schedule and coordinate procurement and delivery of materials and assemblies.

Identify, communicate, and resolve material shortages and supply constraints.

Provide daily shortage status and expedite updates to manufacturing and operations teams.

Perform material reconciliation activities and coordinate returns to inventory when appropriate.

Review and disposition excess, obsolete, and slow‑moving inventory.

Maintain ERP system accuracy related to planning, procurement, inventory, and supplier transactions.

Support New Product Introduction (NPI), R&D, and sustaining production programs.

Work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Accounting, and Program Management to meet project objectives and timelines.

Manage Engineering Change Notices (ECNs) and evaluate material impact, inventory exposure, and procurement requirements.

Interpret engineering changes and update planning activities accordingly.

Participate in NPI, ECO, MRB, and cross‑functional project meetings.

Coordinate procurement activities to support prototype builds, engineering development, and production launches.

Assist in developing and implementing purchasing and planning policies, procedures, and best practices.

Quality & Problem Resolution

Monitor and resolve invoice discrepancies and receiving issues.

Support processing of non‑conforming material requests, quality incident reports (QIDs), return material authorizations (RMAs), and supplier corrective action requests (SCARs).

Review discrepant materials and participate in material review board (MRB) activities.

Work with suppliers and internal teams to resolve production, quality, and supply chain issues affecting schedules and customer commitments.

Prepare reports and communicate material and supply chain risks to management and stakeholders.

Additional Responsibilities

Maintain complete status records, reports, and documentation.

Travel to supplier locations and company facilities as needed (up to 10%).

Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain management, operations management, engineering, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent) preferred.

Experience

Minimum 5 years of purchasing, planning, and materials management experience in a manufacturing environment.

Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI), engineering, and production operations preferred.

Experience with contract manufacturing, electro‑mechanical products, PCBAs, cable assemblies, or custom manufacturing environments preferred.

Strong understanding of MRP/ERP systems and supply chain processes.

Skills & Technical Requirements

Previous experience with ERP/MRP systems such as Oracle, SAP, Syspro, or equivalent.

Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel.

Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.

Strong negotiation and supplier relationship management skills.

Knowledge of inventory management and production planning principles.

Ability to maintain ethical and professional supplier relationships.

Detail‑oriented with a high degree of accuracy and accountability.

Working Conditions

Office and manufacturing environment.

Occasional travel up to 10% as business needs require.

Physical Requirements

Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods.

Frequent computer and keyboard use.

Ability to move throughout office and production areas as necessary.