Buyer/Planner

591x Varian Medical Systems, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Varian Medical Systems, Inc. is seeking a Buyer/Planner in the United States to ensure uninterrupted material supply for manufacturing. You will oversee materials planning, inventory management, and supplier coordination to support production schedules and new product introductions.

The role requires 5+ years in purchasing or planning, SAP experience, and strong analytical and communication skills. You will interact with manufacturing, quality, engineering, and procurement teams to optimize

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in purchasing, materials planning, production planning, or supply chain operations.
• Experience using ERP systems such as SAP.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Strong communication and supplier management skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned commodities and suppliers to ensure continuous material availability for production.
• Review MRP-generated supply recommendations and take appropriate actions to support demand.
• Analyze inventory levels, safety stock settings, lead times, and replenishment strategies.
• Monitor material shortages and proactively mitigate supply risks.
• Support inventory optimization initiatives to improve inventory turns while maintaining service levels.
• Maintain accurate planning parameters within SAP, including lead times, lot sizes, safety stock, and MRP settings.
• Participate in cycle count investigations and inventory reconciliation activities.
• Convert purchase requisitions into purchase orders and manage order fulfillment.
• Monitor supplier commitments and expedite orders as required.
• Track supplier performance including on-time delivery, responsiveness, and quality.
• Collaborate with Supplier Quality and Strategic Procurement on supplier-related issues.
• Support supplier onboarding, qualification, and compliance activities.
• Coordinate resolution of delivery delays, allocation challenges, and supply disruptions.
• Maintain accurate supplier master and purchasing data.
• Support manufacturing schedules through material planning and execution.
• Participate in daily production meetings and shortage reviews.
• Coordinate material availability for production orders and schedule adherence.
• Identify and communicate material risks that may impact customer deliveries.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, and Quality teams to resolve material-related issues.
• Support NPI projects through material planning and supplier readiness activities.
• Evaluate supply chain impacts of engineering changes.
• Manage inventory disposition plans associated with product changes and obsolescence.
• Coordinate cut-in/cut-over activities with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Procurement teams.
• Analyze planning, inventory, and supplier performance metrics.
• Develop and maintain reports related to inventory, shortages, supplier delivery, and material availability.
• Support cost reduction, inventory reduction, and process improvement initiatives.
• Participate in Lean, digitalization, and supply chain optimization projects.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Supplier management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Engineering, or related field

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Join us in pioneering breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably. Our inspiring and caring environment forms a global community that celebrates diversity and individuality. We encourage you to step beyond your comfort zone, offering resources and flexibility to foster your professional and personal growth, all while valuing your unique contributions.

The Buyer/Planner is responsible for ensuring uninterrupted supply of raw materials, components, and services required to support manufacturing operations. This role combines production planning, inventory management, supplier management, and purchasing activities to maintain material availability while optimizing inventory investment. The Buyer/Planner serves as the primary operational interface between suppliers, manufacturing, quality, engineering, and procurement to support production schedules, new product introductions, engineering changes, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Materials Planning & Inventory Management

• Manage assigned commodities and suppliers to ensure continuous material availability for production.
• Review MRP-generated supply recommendations and take appropriate actions to support demand.
• Analyze inventory levels, safety stock settings, lead times, and replenishment strategies.
• Monitor material shortages and proactively mitigate supply risks.
• Support inventory optimization initiatives to improve inventory turns while maintaining service levels.
• Maintain accurate planning parameters within SAP, including lead times, lot sizes, safety stock, and MRP settings.
• Participate in cycle count investigations and inventory reconciliation activities.

Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Convert purchase requisitions into purchase orders and manage order fulfillment.
• Monitor supplier commitments and expedite orders as required.
• Track supplier performance including on-time delivery, responsiveness, and quality.
• Collaborate with Supplier Quality and Strategic Procurement on supplier-related issues.
• Support supplier onboarding, qualification, and compliance activities.
• Coordinate resolution of delivery delays, allocation challenges, and supply disruptions.
• Maintain accurate supplier master and purchasing data.

Production Support

• Support manufacturing schedules through effective material planning and execution.
• Participate in daily production meetings and shortage reviews.
• Coordinate material availability for production orders and schedule adherence.
• Identify and communicate material risks that may impact customer deliveries.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, and Quality teams to resolve material-related issues.

New Product Introduction & Engineering Changes

• Support NPI projects through material planning and supplier readiness activities.
• Evaluate supply chain impacts of engineering changes.
• Manage inventory disposition plans associated with product changes and obsolescence.
• Coordinate cut-in/cut-over activities with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Procurement teams.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Analyze planning, inventory, and supplier performance metrics.
• Develop and maintain reports related to inventory, shortages, supplier delivery, and material availability.
• Support cost reduction, inventory reduction, and process improvement initiatives.
• Participate in Lean, digitalization, and supply chain optimization projects.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in purchasing, materials planning, production planning, or supply chain operations.
• Experience using ERP systems such as SAP.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Strong communication and supplier management skills.

Preferred Qualifications