Senior Buyer/Planner

TalentQ, Inc; Maple Grove (MN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

TalentQ, Inc. in Minnesota seeks a Senior Buyer/Planner to keep production moving by owning material availability and supplier performance.

You'll collaborate with Sourcing, Engineering, Production, and Materials teams to maintain optimal inventory, meet on-time deliveries, and drive continuous improvement in material flow. This role reports to the Planning Manager and requires 3–5 years in manufacturing purchasing or planning, with strong ERP and Excel skills.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years in purchasing, materials or production planning in manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of MRP, inventory and supplier management.
• Hands-on ERP experience in a manufacturing setting.
• Advanced Excel skills for data analysis.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Issue purchase orders to approved suppliers for assigned components and raw materials.
• Build and maintain material requirements plans based on production schedules, forecasts, and customer demand.
• Set and communicate supplier delivery requirements and order due dates to support production timelines.
• Monitor supplier performance and drive on-time delivery of purchased materials and components.
• Partner with Engineering, Production, Materials, and Planning to align material availability with build schedules.
• Work proactively with suppliers to resolve shortages, expedite critical materials, and improve lead times.
• Support short- and long-term forecasting of component and steel requirements, identifying supply gaps and capacity constraints.
• Maintain accurate planning and purchasing data within the ERP system.
• Analyze demand, usage trends, and inventory levels to recommend safety stocks and reorder points, balancing inventory accordingly.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across inventory management, supplier performance, and material flow.

Skills

Purchasing

Materials planning

Supplier management

MRP

ERP systems

Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

MRP software

Job description

About the Company

Our client is an engineering-led manufacturer of advanced mechanical and environmental systems for mission-critical, commercial, and industrial markets. With a vertically integrated engineering and manufacturing model, they pair rapid design turnaround with precision fabrication, helping customers move faster on complex projects where reliability, timeline, and quality all matter.

Here, your work goes from first sketch to job site in weeks, not years. The company is growing fast in a high-demand sector, yet the culture remains people-first by design. Teams operate as one unit: driving to win together, energizing each other, and building lasting relationships that make the work both challenging and rewarding.

The Role

We’re seeking a Senior Buyer/Planner to keep production moving. You’ll own material availability for assigned components and raw materials, combining purchasing, inventory planning, supplier management, and demand forecasting. Working closely with Sourcing, Engineering, Production, and Materials teams, you’ll keep inventory at optimal levels, protect on-time customer deliveries, and push supplier performance forward. This role reports to the Planning Manager.

Key Responsibilities

• Issue purchase orders to approved suppliers for assigned components and raw materials
• Build and maintain material requirements plans based on production schedules, forecasts, and customer demand
• Set and communicate supplier delivery requirements and order due dates to support production timelines
• Monitor supplier performance and drive on-time delivery of purchased materials and components
• Partner with Engineering, Production, Materials, and Planning to align material availability with build schedules
• Work proactively with suppliers to resolve shortages, expedite critical materials, and improve lead times
• Support short- and long-term forecasting of component and steel requirements, identifying supply gaps and capacity constraints
• Maintain accurate planning and purchasing data within the ERP system
• Analyze demand, usage trends, and inventory levels to recommend safety stocks and reorder points, balancing inventory accordingly
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across inventory management, supplier performance, and material flow

Qualifications & Requirements

• 3–5 years of experience in purchasing, materials planning, production planning, or supply chain management within a manufacturing environment
• Strong understanding of MRP systems, inventory management, lead times, and supplier management
• Hands‑on experience with ERP systems in a manufacturing setting
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem‑solving skills
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field preferred

Nice-to-Haves

• Professional certification such as CPP, CPSM, CPIM, CSCP, or Lean Six Sigma

What Sets You Apart

• Strong leadership and communication skills
• Thrives in a fast‑paced environment and consistently takes initiative
• Analytical mindset with sharp attention to detail
• Collaborates easily across departments
• Strong organizational and project management abilities
• Works autonomously and owns outcomes

Why You’ll Love It Here

• See your work make a tangible impact in weeks, not years
• Join a growing organization in a high-demand, mission‑critical sector
• People‑first, collaborative “one team” culture