Buyer/Planner

Springs Window Fashions; Waukegan (IL); On-site; USD 59,000 - 89,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) match

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Volunteer day

Job summary

Springs Window Fashions in the United States is seeking a Buyer/Planner to maximize service levels while minimizing inventory across select product lines. This role blends detailed planning with strategic budgeting and supplier collaboration.

You will work with Purchasing, Forecasting, Sales and Marketing to develop accurate forecasts, generate work and purchase orders, monitor capacity, and manage backlogs to achieve on-time delivery.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required, with 2–4 years of related experience.
• 2–4 years of Production Control experience, with proven performance in all P&IC concepts and techniques.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration preferred.
• APICS certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Ensure materials are available to support customer requirements while minimizing freight costs.
• Monitor material shortages, and identify and implement corrective actions.
• Keep material availability dates updated and accurate.
• Monitor capacity requirements, both short and long term.
• Work with Forecasting, Sales, and Marketing to develop accurate forecasts.
• Continuously look for service opportunities.
• Hold overall product line responsibility for service levels.
• Manage the backlog by facility to ensure service objectives are achieved.
• Create work orders and purchase orders in accordance with service and inventory objectives.
• Review all ECRs/ECNs and take appropriate action.
• Monitor and ensure all lead times are accurate.
• Maintain the integrity and accuracy of plan bills.
• Work with Product Management to introduce and exit programs efficiently and effectively.
• Review procedures and practices to identify continuous improvement opportunities.
• Help mentor and cross-train Planner/Buyers.
• Provide a 'Best Experience' to all contacts by consistently following our 'Guiding Principles'.
• Complete special projects as assigned.

Skills

Analytical skills

Written and verbal communication

PC literate

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration preferred

APICS certification preferred

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Job description

The Best Experience Company: Our tagline is “The Best Experience Company.” More than just a set of words, it represents the essence of who we are at Springs Window Fashions. As North America’s premier window covering company, we’re committed to creating the Best Experience for our associates, consumers and end users, business partners, and communities. We want you to join our team of passionate self-starters who believe the world is full of Best Experience opportunities. So, if you’re excited about the thought of a Best Experience career with a team focused on creating Best Experiences for all, we want to hear from you!

Description

The Best Experience Company: Our tagline is “The Best Experience Company.” More than just a set of words, it represents the essence of who we are at Springs Window Fashions. As North America’s premier window covering company, we’re committed to creating the Best Experience for our associates, consumers and end users, business partners, and communities. We want you to join our team of passionate self-starters who believe the world is full of Best Experience opportunities. So, if you’re excited about the thought of a Best Experience career with a team focused on creating Best Experiences for all, we want to hear from you!

Position Summary

The buyer/planner will maximize service performance while minimizing inventory investment on select product groups and/or product lines. This is achieved through a combination of detailed planning in association with high-level, strategic planning.

Key Responsibilities

Service

• Ensure materials are available to support customer requirements while minimizing freight costs
• Monitor material shortages, and identify and implement corrective actions
• Keep material availability dates updated and accurate
• Monitor capacity requirements, both short and long term
• Work with Forecasting, Sales, and Marketing to develop accurate forecasts
• Continuously look for service opportunities
• Hold overall product line responsibility for service levels
• Manage the backlog by facility to ensure service objectives are achieved

Inventory

• Work with Purchasing to reduce lead times, minimums, and price break quantities
• Provide forecasts to major suppliers
• Follow up on rejects to ensure they are expeditiously dispositioned
• Continuously look for inventory opportunities
• Monitor aged inventories to identify opportunities to reduce and prevent them
• Hold overall product line responsibility for inventory levels
• Ensure all obsolete inventory is dispositioned and ultimately consumed, sold, or scrapped

Maintenance

• Create work orders and purchase orders in accordance with service and inventory objectives
• Review all ECRs/ECNs and take appropriate action
• Monitor and ensure all lead times are accurate
• Maintain the integrity and accuracy of plan bills
• Work with Product Management to introduce and exit programs efficiently and effectively

People and Process

• Review procedures and practices to identify continuous improvement opportunities
• Help mentor and cross-train Planner/Buyers
• Provide a “Best Experience” to all contacts by consistently following our “Guiding Principles”
• Complete special projects as assigned

Work Environment

• Primarily an office environment, with regular interaction with the production floor, warehouse, and supplier contacts
• May involve occasional exposure to noise, machinery, and other industrial conditions when on the production floor

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods
• Ability to occasionally stand, walk, reach, bend, and stoop
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds (ask for assistance where necessary)
• Must wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) when on the production floor

The annual base wage for this position is reasonably expected to be $59,340 – 89,010 annually plus bonus. Factors which may affect starting pay may include geography/market, skills, education, experience, and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

Benefits: The Company offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with up to 5% company match of eligible contributions, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, short-term disability insurance, paid sick time at an amount that meets or exceeds all local requirements, paid vacation time (pro-rated for current year based on start date), paid holidays per year, and one paid volunteer day off per year.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent required, with two (2) to four (4) years of related experience
• Two (2) to four (4) years of successful Production Control experience required, with proven performance in all P&IC concepts and techniques
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration preferred
• APICS certification preferred

Skills And Abilities

• Strong analytical skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• PC literate, with working familiarity with Microsoft Excel and Word