Senior Buyer, Production Planner

Pop-Up Talent; Morgan Hill (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Pop-Up Talent is seeking a Senior Buyer / Production Planner to drive end-to-end material procurement and production scheduling for aerospace manufacturing. The role ensures alignment of supply with demand, owning purchasing strategy, supplier performance, and executable production plans.

The successful candidate will optimize inventory, improve on-time delivery, and coordinate with Engineering, Quality, and Operations to maintain material readiness and capacity to meet customer commitments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, operations, or related field preferred.
• 3–5+ years of experience in purchasing, production planning, or similar roles in manufacturing.
• Aerospace industry experience preferred.
• Strong hands-on experience with ERP/MRP systems; advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, data analysis).

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing, purchasing, and supplier management for all production materials.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, and terms to meet cost and delivery targets.
• Drive supplier performance in on-time delivery, quality, and responsiveness.
• Manage open purchase orders to ensure timely material delivery.
• Resolve supplier issues including delays, shortages, and quality concerns.
• Identify cost reduction and supply continuity strategies.

Skills

Purchasing

Production scheduling

Supplier management

Negotiation

ERP/MRP

Excel

Inventory management

Data analysis

Capacity planning

Cross-functional

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain/operations or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

The Senior Buyer / Production Planner is responsible for end-to-end material procurement and production scheduling in support of aerospace manufacturing operations.

This role ensures alignment between supply and demand by owning purchasing strategy, managing supplier performance, and developing executable production schedules.

The position plays a critical role in driving on-time delivery, optimizing inventory levels, and ensuring material and capacity readiness to meet customer commitments.

• Lead sourcing, purchasing, and supplier management for all production materials
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, and commercial terms to achieve cost & delivery targets
• Drive supplier performance in on-time delivery, quality, and responsiveness
• Manage open purchase orders to ensure timely and accurate material delivery
• Resolve supplier issues, including delays, shortages, and quality concerns
• Identify and implement cost reduction and supply continuity strategies

Production Planning & Scheduling

• Develop and maintain daily and weekly production schedules
• Align production priorities with revenue impact and customer commitments
• Monitor schedule adherence and adjust plans based on constraints
• Balance labor, machine capacity, and material availability
• Communicate clear build plans and priorities across the production floor

Material Planning & Inventory Ownership

• Own material planning to ensure alignment with production schedules
• Maintain optimal inventory levels to prevent shortages and minimize excess
• Establish and manage inventory policies (min/max, safety stock)
• Execute MRP planning within ERP systems
• Identify supply risks and implement mitigation plans

Cross-Functional Execution

• Partner with Engineering, Quality, and Operations to ensure alignment
• Support supplier compliance with AS9100 and ISO quality standards
• Provide visibility into material status, risks, and constraints
• Collaborate with Finance and Accounting to ensure inventory accuracy

Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Track and report key performance indicators (OTD, schedule adherence, inventory turns, shortages)
• Identify bottlenecks and drive process improvements
• Improve planning accuracy and reduce reliance on expediting
• Standardize processes to enhance efficiency and scalability

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES:

• Proven experience in purchasing and production scheduling within a manufacturing environment
• Strong understanding of MRP, inventory management, and capacity planning
• Demonstrated negotiation and supplier management skills
• Data-driven mindset with strong analytical capabilities
• Proficiency in ERP systems and advanced Microsoft Excel skills

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Operations, or a related field (preferred)
• At least 3–5+ years of experience in purchasing, production planning, or similar roles
• Manufacturing experience required; aerospace industry experience preferred
• Strong hands-on experience with ERP/MRP systems
• Advanced Excel skills (e.g., pivot tables, lookups, data analysis)

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we are an organization that values diversity. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, including minorities and persons with disabilities.