Senior Buyer & Planner

Seakeeper, Inc.; Leesport (Berks County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Seakeeper, Inc. in Leesport, PA is seeking a Senior Buyer & Planner to focus on inventory, purchasing, and production to keep the Seakeeper engine running. You will lead sourcing strategies and own end-to-end planning for high-value materials.

Collaborate with purchasing, engineering, accounting and suppliers; manage supplier performance with KPIs, drive cost reductions, and mentor junior teammates in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management or related field.
• 7+ years in procurement, planning, or materials management in manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of MRP, inventory control, and demand planning.
• Experience managing supplier performance and escalations.
• Attention to detail and proactive problem-solving.
• Professional, responsive, well-organized with strong time management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing and material planning strategies.
• Own end-to-end planning and purchasing for complex materials.
• Lead supplier performance management with KPIs and scorecards.
• Serve as liaison between purchasing, production, engineering, and suppliers.
• Oversee inbound inventory management and risk mitigation.
• Communicate schedule changes and delivery risks to stakeholders.
• Drive cost reduction, lead-time improvements, and service levels.
• Lead ECN implementations related to BOM changes and new products.
• Develop reports to monitor supplier performance and inventory health.
• Mentor junior team members.

Skills

MRP knowledge

Inventory management

Supplier negotiations

Forecasting / planning

Excel expertise

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management

Tools

NetSuite ERP

MRP systems

Job description

WHAT YOU’LL DO

It takes a lot of parts and pieces to create and support a gravity-defying product! As our Senior Buyer & Planner, you’ll focus on inventory, purchasing, and production to keep the Seakeeper engine running. You’ll make an immediate impact at Seakeeper and support our operations team by:

• Developing and executing sourcing, inventory, and material planning strategies aligned with company growth and operational objectives
• Owning end-to-end planning and purchasing for complex and/or high-value production materials
• Leading supplier performance management activities, including KPI reviews, scorecards, corrective actions, and business reviews
• Serving as a senior liaison between purchasing, production, engineering, accounting, and suppliers
• Leading inbound inventory management, including order acknowledgements, supplier follow-up, risk mitigation, and escalation of delays
• Analyzing and communicating schedule changes, capacity constraints, and delivery risks to stakeholders
• Driving supplier cost reduction, lead-time improvement, and service level enhancement initiatives
• Leading ECN (engineering change notice) implementation related to BOM (bill of material) changes, new product introductions, and phase-in/phase-out planning
• Developing reporting and metrics to monitor supplier performance, inventory health, forecasting accuracy, and supply chain effectiveness
• Supporting and mentoring more junior team members as needed

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED

Do you have a positive attitude, an eagerness to learn, and the ability to hustle in a fast-paced environment? Then Seakeeper is the place for you! Here are a few other things you’ll need to succeed.

MUST-HAVES

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, or a similar related field
• 7+ years of experience in procurement, production planning, supply chain, or materials management roles within a manufacturing environment
• Advanced understanding of MRP, inventory management, demand planning, and manufacturing processes
• Experience managing supplier performance, negotiations, and escalations
• Ferocious attention to detail and“won’t take no for an answer”attitude
• Be professional, responsive, resourceful, flexible and well-organized
• Superior time management, multitasking, organizational, and prioritization skills
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• High level of integrity, accountability, and results-driven performance

NICE-TO-HAVES

• Experience working with ERP systems, preferably NetSuite
• APICS/ASCM CPIM, CSCP, CPSM, or similar professional certification
• Experience with KPI Reporting, inventory optimization, and supply chain analytics
• Experience with new product introductions and engineering change management

MORE DETAILS YOU'LL WANT TO KNOW

• On-the-job training will be provided (we will help you become the Seakeeper expert!)
• You’ll be based in our Leesport, PA facility full-time
• You’ll report to the Supply Planning Manager, also based in Leesport
• You’ll regularly work with the finance and plant leadership to update the status of incoming materials and resolve issues

YOUR TEAM

Our Senior Buyer & Planner is on our Procurement team, which is nestled within our Operations department. It is a small, but mighty team that keeps the manufacturing engine of Seakeeper running. With cross-department collaboration and interaction with external partners, you’ll gain knowledge across the various areas of company, so you’ll be able to own your role and bring new ideas to the table to improve processes and results.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT HERE

It’s true that we make extraordinary products, but our favorite part about Seakeeper is our people! We lovethe culture we have built and are aggressively protective of our team atmosphere. This is why we value your cultural fit as equally as we value your technical contributions. With a palpable passion for what we do, we work hard, move fast and are constantly pushing (or should we say crushing) boundaries. That means there is no room for jerks!

We operate with the nimbleness and growth mindset of a scrappy startup. Throughout the organization, we take ownership and accountability for our ultimate team success by openly and actively seeking out constructive feedback on how we can improve. We believe great ideas can strike at any moment, and when you have one, you’re empowered to speak up!

Fast-paced and hands‑on don’t even begin to describe what you’ll experience here. That means you have the freedom to make a difference and contribute to the larger goal, regardless of your position. The only constant at Seakeeper is change, and we thrive on it!

WHO WE ARE

71% of our Earth is covered by water and we want everyone to make the most of it. That’s why we are on a mission to create products that transform the boating experience with an organization that employees want to work for, customers want to buy from, and vendors want to partner with.

Founded in 2008, we have grown from a start‑up operation to the worldwide leader in marine motion control. The journey began with our gyro stabilization technology, which eliminates up to 90% of boat roll and creates a land‑like experience on the water. This technology went from an unknown commodity to a must‑have boating requirement in the first decade. In 2022, we added another jaw‑dropping technology to our portfolio with the launch of Seakeeper Ride, a first‑of‑its‑kind Vessel Attitude Control System which eliminates underway pitch and roll, making time on the water safer and more comfortable for everyone onboard. In summary, we are in the business of creating gravity‑defying products that completely change the way people spend their time on the water…and we are just getting started!

We have long runways with both of our technologies with new addressable markets on the horizon and drive to push the boundaries of what our technologies can do. With dedicated focus to each segment, in addition to shared leadership of each vertical, we can balance the different demands of each segment while providing a consist overall vision and direction of the company.

Ready for a new challenge in a fast‑paced environment? Want to help us disrupt an industry? Come on and apply, we are ready for you!

Sign‑up to receive email updates about Seakeeper’s current open job opportunities: www.seakeeper.com/job-sign-up

Seakeeper is personally committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. All employment is decided on the basis of job requirements, individual qualifications, and business need.