Strategic Buyer & Materials Planner

TDK-Lambda Americas Inc in; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 56,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Educational assistance

Employee recognition and service award

Career growth opportunities within TDK

Job summary

TDK-Lambda Americas in San Diego, CA is seeking an organized Buyer/Planner to coordinate purchasing and material planning to keep materials and finished goods available for operations and customer commitments. You will work with suppliers and internal teams to manage supply schedules, keep planning data accurate, spot risks, and support delivery and inventory goals.

This in-office role offers opportunities for growth within a global technology organization and a collaborative team environment.

Qualifications

• Two years of experience in purchasing, material planning, inventory control, logistics, or a related supply-chain role.
• Experience using an ERP system, including ERP/MRP systems and maintaining accurate transactional or planning data.
• Working understanding of purchasing, supply and demand, material planning, forecasting, replenishment, inventory management, and logistics.
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, PivotTables, lookup functions (XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP), and sorting and filtering data.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Ability to review numerical information, identify discrepancies, and prepare or interpret routine reports.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to obtain clarification and communicate issues professionally.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain accuracy in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work independently within established procedures and approval limits, while escalating issues appropriately.
• Proficiency with Outlook and other standard business applications, and the ability to learn new systems quickly.

Responsibilities

• Review approved requisitions and MRP requirements, and plan purchases based on demand, inventory, lead times, and business priorities.
• Confirm supplier pricing, availability, and delivery information.
• Prepare and issue purchase orders and bid requests within your assigned authority.
• Perform material planning and scheduling for assigned products and apply planning parameters to support accurate MRP results.
• Monitor supplier confirmations and open orders, coordinate delivery schedules, and expedite late or at-risk shipments.
• Update ERP dates and records to keep information current.
• Analyze demand, inventory, usage, and shipment data, and support forecasting or projection requests from management.
• Coordinate with suppliers and internal teams to support material availability, customer requirements, and on-time shipment.
• Investigate delivery, quality, invoice, and receipt discrepancies, coordinate corrective actions, and elevate issues as appropriate.
• Coordinate authorized product changes as required.
• Coordinate supplier returns with the supplier, Quality, and Warehouse for NCMRs and other situations, including replacement orders, credits, and follow-up.
• Monitor and process Advance Shipping Notifications (ASNs).
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Purchasing

Material planning

ERP/MRP

Excel

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Time management

Outlook

Education

Associate or Bachelor's degree in supply chain or related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

TDK-Lambda Americas in San Diego, CA is seeking an organized Buyer/Planner to coordinate purchasing and material planning to keep materials and finished goods available for operations and customer commitments. You will work with suppliers and internal teams to manage supply schedules, keep planning data accurate, spot risks, and support delivery and inventory goals.

This in-office role offers opportunities for growth within a global technology organization and a collaborative team environment.