Material Planner-Buyer

The Step2 Company; Streetsboro (OH); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k with Employer Match

Company Paid Life & Disability

Adoption Assistance

Medical, Dental and Vision

Employee Discount

10 Paid Holidays

Job summary

The Step2 Company is seeking a Buyer / Material Planner in Streetsboro, OH to ensure availability of purchased components for production across multiple facilities. You will translate demand into purchasing decisions, manage inventory, cost, and supply risk, and collaborate cross-functionally to optimize material flow.

Responsibilities include optimizing MRP parameters in Oracle ERP, negotiating pricing for cost savings, and coordinating with Production, Planning, Logistics, and Quality to

Qualifications

• Two to five years of material planning and/or purchasing experience; Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• MRP, inventory management, lead times, replenishment strategies knowledge.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to translate data into planning decisions.
• Advanced Excel skills for large datasets, formulas, lookups, PivotTables.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize inventory and material supply strategies.
• Manage MRP parameters in Oracle ERP for planning and replenishment.
• Evaluate supplier proposals, negotiate pricing, issue purchase orders for cost savings.
• Review MRP requirements and production schedules daily; place POs as needed.
• Identify and mitigate material shortages or disruptions; communicate risks and plans.
• Build and maintain supplier relationships; act as liaison for supply matters.

Skills

MRP knowledge

Inventory management

Excel advanced

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Oracle ERP

Excel

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Material Planner-Buyer

Full Time Professional Streetsboro, OH, US

Job Summary:

The Buyer / Material Planner is responsible for ensuring the availability of purchased components to support production at multiple Step2 facilities while effectively managing inventory, cost and supply risk. This role is a key contributor to the material supply strategy for assigned components, translating demand and MRP requirements into effective purchasing and replenishment decisions. The Buyer / Material Planner serves as the primary operational contact with assigned suppliers and works cross-functionally to identify and resolve supply issues, optimize planning parameters and continuously improve material flow in support of production.

Job Duties:

• Assist with the development of inventory and material supply strategies for assigned categories; identify and implement opportunities to continuously optimize those strategies.
• Optimize and manage MRP parameters in Oracle ERP system to support effective material planning and replenishment.
• Utilize deep knowledge of supplier cost structures and market trends to evaluate proposals, negotiate optimal pricing, and issue purchase orders that drive cost savings across assigned categories.
• Review MRP requirements and production schedules on a daily basis and take appropriate purchasing actions, including placement of purchase orders and releases, in accordance with established material supply strategies.
• Proactively identify and resolve potential material shortages and supply disruptions; communicate risks, status, and recovery plans to Production, Planning and other affected stakeholders.
• Build and maintain supplier relationships and act as the key liaison for operational/material-supply matters.
• Drive continuous improvement in material performance through root cause identification and corrective action management.
• Collaborate cross functionally with Production, Planning, Logistics, Quality, Engineering, and other stakeholders to support material planning requirements and production needs.
• Collaborate with Logistics to enhance inbound transportation efficiencies.
• Manage assigned Engineering Change Notices and coordinate execution with supplier base.
• Work with the quality department to drive supplier corrective actions and ensure supplier accountability.
• Support Procurement Leadership Team with various projects including vendor management and strategy creation, implementation, and periodic supplier business reviews.
• Serve as a backup for other positions within the Material Planning group.
• Other projects and tasks as assigned

Qualifications and Experience Requirements:

• Two to five years of professional material planning and/or purchasing experience; Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field of study preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of material planning concepts, including MRP, inventory management, lead times, order quantities, replenishment strategies, and supplier constraints.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret demand, inventory, and supply data and translate analysis into effective planning decisions.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to analyze and manipulate large datasets using formulas, lookups, PivotTables, and other analytical tools.
• Demonstrated curiosity and a continuous‑improvement mindset, with an interest in developing and adopting new tools, technologies, and methods to improve material planning effectiveness.
• High degree of ownership and accountability, with a demonstrated tendency to identify and solve problems rather than simply escalated them.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and respectfully with others, approach problems constructively, and contribute positively to the team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective supplier‑management and negotiation skills.
• Experience with Oracle ERP or a comparable MRP/ERP system highly preferred.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and manage multiple material requirements, supplier issues, and competing production priorities.
• Ability to travel up to 5%.

This position will perform most job duties in an office environment where using a computer, software applications, telephone, printer, etc. are essential.

FLSA Status:

Exempt

What are the perks?

• 401k with Employer Match
• Company Paid Life & Disability Insurance
• Adoption Assistance
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Employee Discount
• 10 Paid Holidays

Join our family!

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.