Planning & Purchasing Specialist

Grahamjobs; Danville (VA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Grahamjobs in Danville, VA is seeking a Planning & Purchasing Specialist to balance data, supplier relationships, and production demands. The role covers material planning, MRP, and procurement to keep materials available, timely, and cost-effective.

You will collaborate across planning, manufacturing, suppliers, engineering, and factory functions to support new product launches, inventory optimization, and continuous cost control. A Bachelor's degree and 2+ years in similar roles are expected.

Qualifications

• Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Economics, Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in material planning, production planning, purchasing, procurement, or related supply chain function.
• Working knowledge of MRP principles and material requirements planning.
• Working knowledge of SAP or another ERP system.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate with suppliers and cross-functional internal teams.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Fluent written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Execute material requirements planning for materials/components based on market requirements and production plans.
• Manage and optimize short-, mid-, and long-term MRP processes.
• Evaluate optimum lot sizes, lead times, and inventory requirements.
• Monitor material availability to ensure uninterrupted production.
• Analyze inventory turnover and reduce excess inventory and write-offs.
• Support factory teams in achieving inventory targets and improving working capital.

Skills

MRP principles

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Attention to detail

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

SAP

Excel

Job description

Planning & Purchasing SpecialistLocation: Danville, VA Job Type: Direct Hire | Full-TimeSalary: $75,000-$80,000

Are you a planning and purchasing professional who enjoys balancing data, supplier relationships, inventory, and production demands? Do you have experience with MRP, SAP, purchasing, material planning, and inventory optimization? We are seeking a Planning & purchasing Specialist to play a critical role in ensuring the right materials are available at the right time, in the right quantities, and at the right cost. This position offers the opportunity to work across planning, procurement, manufacturing, suppliers, engineering, and other factory functions while directly impacting production continuity, inventory performance, cost control, and new product launches. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who wants more than a transactional purchasing role and is looking to build a broader career in supply chain, materials planning, and manufacturing operations.

What You'll Do

Material Planning & MRP

• Execute material requirements planning for materials/components based on market requirements, product specifications, new product development plans, inventory targets, sourcing strategies, and supplier lead times.
• Manage and continuously optimize short-, mid-, and long-term MRP processes.
• Evaluate optimum lot sizes, transportation unit loads, shelf life, lead times, and inventory requirements.
• Monitor material availability and inventory levels to ensure uninterrupted production.
• Analyze inventory turnover and identify opportunities to reduce excess inventory, material obsolescence, and write-offs.
• Support factory teams in achieving inventory targets and improving overall working capital performance.

Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Create and manage purchase orders based on material requirements and production needs.
• Monitor supplier order confirmations and proactively expedite purchase orders and deliveries when necessary.
• Partner with suppliers to resolve delivery issues, material defects, invoice discrepancies, and goods-receipt issues.
• Maintain accurate purchasing and material information within SAP.
• Work closely with suppliers and internal teams to maintain uninterrupted procurement and payment processes.
• Monitor transportation requirements and identify opportunities to control freight and logistics costs.
• Ensure shipping documentation meets applicable customs and compliance requirements.
• Build productive supplier relationships and collaborate with vendors to improve service, quality, inventory, and delivery performance.

New Product Development & Factory Projects

• Support new product launches, machinery run-ability, and material readiness activities.
• Process PLM-related activities and coordinate materials required for new launches and factory trials.
• Analyze material specifications and identify opportunities for cost optimization and process improvement.
• Support global and local material projects, tests, and implementations within the factory.
• Work cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, quality, sourcing, and other factory teams to ensure materials are available and production requirements are met.

Inventory Optimization & Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to reduce inventory while maintaining production reliability and service levels.
• Work with suppliers to evaluate innovative inventory-management approaches, including Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), Kanban, and other replenishment strategies.
• Continuously evaluate planning and purchasing processes to improve efficiency, accuracy, cost, and material availability.
• Maintain accurate SAP material master data and ensure planning information remains current.
• Participate in the monthly Integrated Business Planning (IBP) cycle and complete required planning activities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives throughout the planning and purchasing function.

Quality & Supplier Corrective Actions

• Ensure defective raw materials are communicated to suppliers and addressed promptly.
• Coordinate supplier corrective and preventive actions related to material quality issues.
• Organize supplier technical visits when necessary to support production and resolve material-related challenges.
• Ensure defective material procedures are accurately recorded and completed in a timely manner.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in Economics, Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in material planning, production planning, purchasing, procurement, or a related supply chain function.
• Working knowledge of MRP principles and material requirements planning.
• Working knowledge of SAP or another ERP system.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Microsoft Excel.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to effectively collaborate with suppliers and cross-functional internal teams.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to adapt quickly to changing production, supply, and operational requirements.
• Fluent written and spoken English.

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