Senior Buyer Planner

Initial Therapeutics, Inc.; Virginia (IL); On-site; USD 72,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Afton Scientific is a Virginia-based contract manufacturing organization (CMO) specializing in small-batch filling of injectable products from clinical trials to commercial drugs.

The Senior Buyer Planner will lead procurement, planning, and management of raw materials and packaging to support manufacturing operations and projects. Strong supplier relationships and risk mitigation are essential in this fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree; 5+ years in purchasing, material planning, and/or vendor management can substitute degree.
• Experience in inventory management is required.
• Proficiency with SAP or another ERP system is required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Obtain competitive quotes and procure materials to support manufacturing and project needs.
• Serve as primary contact for assigned suppliers and manage relationships.
• Monitor open purchase orders, supplier delivery performance, and critical material orders.
• Manage raw material, in-transit, and consignment inventory with accurate MRP data.
• Coordinate material availability to support production schedules and minimize shortages/excess inventory.
• Perform production and project material planning and assist with forecast planning.
• Create and maintain material allocations and pick lists.
• Define and maintain inventory policies including safety stock, reorder points, and lot sizes.
• Identify supply risks and develop mitigation plans.
• Participate in audits as required; support Supplier Qualification Program.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance supply chain efficiency, reliability, and cost effectiveness.

Skills

Procurement

Vendor management

Supplier relationship management

Inventory planning

ERP (SAP)

MS Office (Excel)

Communication

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain or related field

Associate degree

Tools

SAP

ERP systems

Job description

Afton Scientific is a contract manufacturing organization (CMO) in Virginia that specializes in small-batch filling of injectables from clinical trials to approved commercial drugs.

Utilizing 35,000 Sq. Ft of manufacturing, lab, warehouse, and administrative space, Afton provides custom, innovative solutions for clinical to commercial sterile manufacturing, packaging and labeling, analytical and micro lab services, and pharmaceutical support services.

Our Ready-To-Fill® line continues with our philosophy of guidance and support for our clients. It offers top-quality pre-sterilized components to those who can fill in-house.

• Serving clients in 18 Countries
• Successful NDA and ANDA drug registrations
• In good standing with the FDA, PMDA, and MHRA

NOTE: Afton Scientific does not sponsor work visas. No recruiters please.

Afton Scientific is seeking an experienced, proactive, and results-oriented Senior Buyer Planner to join our Supply Chain team. This position plays a key role in leading the procurement, planning, and management of raw materials and packaging needed to support manufacturing operations and assigned projects.

The Senior Buyer Planner will have significant responsibility for supplier relationships, forecasting, inventory strategy, material availability, and supply-risk mitigation. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced supply chain professional who enjoys solving complex problems, developing supplier relationships, and improving the systems and processes that keep manufacturing operations running successfully.

Compensation

$72,000 – $90,000 per year

Placement within the range will be based on qualifications, relevant experience, internal equity, and demonstrated competencies.

Primary Responsibilities

• Obtain competitive quotes and procure materials required to support manufacturing and project needs.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned suppliers and actively manage supplier relationships.
• Monitor open purchase orders, supplier delivery performance, and critical material orders.
• Manage raw material, in-transit, and consignment inventory while maintaining accurate MRP planning data.
• Coordinate material availability to support production schedules while minimizing both shortages and excess inventory.
• Perform production and project material planning and assist with forecast planning.
• Create and maintain material allocations and pick lists.
• Define, review, and maintain inventory policies, including safety stock levels, reorder points, and lot sizes.
• Identify potential supply risks and develop appropriate mitigation plans.
• Participate in internal and external audits as required.
• Support Afton's Supplier Qualification Program.
• Author and review supply chain and quality-related documentation, including SOPs, specifications, Supplier Non-Conformances, regulatory reports, supplier audit reports, and new supplier documentation.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives designed to improve supply chain efficiency, reliability, compliance, and cost effectiveness.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor's degree; degree requirement may be substituted with at least five years of experience in purchasing, material planning, and/or vendor management.
• Previous inventory management experience.
• Demonstrated experience procuring materials.
• Proficiency with SAP or another ERP system.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, primarily Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated initiative and a proactive approach to identifying and resolving problems.

Preferred Knowledge and Experience

• Experience working within a cGMP-regulated environment.
• Production planning experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain or a related field.
• Experience managing supplier performance and critical material requirements.
• Experience developing inventory strategies, including safety stock and reorder-point planning.
• Experience supporting supplier qualification or audit activities.
• Demonstrated experience identifying and mitigating supply-chain risks.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Planning & Organization
• Supplier Relationship Management
• Negotiation & Influence
• Inventory & Material Planning
• Problem Solving & Decision Making
• Risk Identification & Mitigation
• Communication & Collaboration
• Accountability & Follow-Through
• Continuous Improvement

What You'll Gain

• Increased ownership of critical procurement, planning, and inventory-management activities.
• Opportunities to influence supplier performance, material strategy, and production continuity.
• Experience developing inventory policies and supply-risk mitigation strategies.
• Exposure to supplier qualification, audits, regulatory documentation, and cGMP supply chain operations.
• Opportunities to lead continuous improvement initiatives and strengthen Afton's overall Supply Chain capabilities.
• Continued professional development and career growth within Afton Scientific.