Hybrid Inventory Planner & Buyer: Optimize Availability

Quest Oracle Community; Itasca (IL); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Fellowes Brands seeks an Inventory Planner / Buyer to manage planning, purchasing, and inventory activities to support product availability and profitability. You will partner with suppliers and cross-functional teams to balance demand with inventory investment.

The role requires experience with ERP systems (NetSuite/Oracle), strong Excel skills, and a data-driven mindset. Hybrid work setup with occasional travel, and a benefits package offered.

Qualifications

• Two years minimum experience in planning, purchasing, inventory management, procurement, or supply chain operations.
• Experience with ERP systems such as NetSuite, Oracle EBS, Oracle Cloud, or a comparable platform.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, particularly Excel, for data analysis, reporting, and day-to-day communication.
• Ability to analyze demand, inventory, supplier, and order information and convert findings into timely actions.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and prioritization skills in a fast-paced environment.
• Process-driven and detail-oriented with a commitment to data accuracy and follow-through.
• Effective supplier communication and negotiation skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
• Ability to work independently and make sound decisions in a dynamic setting.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage planning and purchasing activities for assigned products to support service-level, inventory, and ROI objectives.
• Execute MRP and translate demand requirements into timely purchasing and inventory actions.
• Create, issue, and manage purchase orders including supplier acknowledgements and delivery-date follow-up.
• Monitor inventory levels, supply requirements, and product availability; identify shortages, excess inventory, and risks.
• Partner with established suppliers to achieve delivery, quality, cost, service, and inventory objectives.
• Track and expedite inbound shipments with suppliers and logistics partners to maintain material flow.
• Review and approve sales orders in NetSuite and communicate backorders and supply constraints.
• Create and manage drop-ship purchase orders for direct-to-customer fulfillment.
• Maintain item, supplier, pricing, and purchasing data in NetSuite and Oracle Cloud.
• Review and implement supplier cost changes and negotiate costs as needed.
• Collaborate with Accounts Payable to resolve invoice discrepancies.
• Provide direction to warehouse operations for inventory-related activities.
• Collaborate with Product, Engineering, Quality, Finance, Logistics, Customer Service, Sales, and warehouse teams for launches and end-of-life activities.
• Monitor KPIs related to inventory, service levels, supplier delivery, PO performance, and availability.
• Identify and implement process improvements to strengthen planning accuracy and data integrity.
• Develop knowledge of NetSuite, Microsoft 365, and related tools.
• Travel domestically less than 5%.

Skills

MRP knowledge

Inventory planning

Purchase order management

ERP experience

Excel analysis

Data accuracy

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Independent worker

Decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

NetSuite

Oracle Cloud

Oracle EBS

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft 365

Job description

Fellowes Brands seeks an Inventory Planner / Buyer to manage planning, purchasing, and inventory activities to support product availability and profitability. You will partner with suppliers and cross-functional teams to balance demand with inventory investment.

The role requires experience with ERP systems (NetSuite/Oracle), strong Excel skills, and a data-driven mindset. Hybrid work setup with occasional travel, and a benefits package offered.