Strategic Buyer & Planner - Materials & Inventory

Teledyne; Elkridge (MD); On-site; USD 74,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

Teledyne in Elkridge, MD is seeking a Buyer/Planner responsible for planning, purchasing, and coordinating materials to support manufacturing while maintaining optimal inventory. The role collaborates with Production, Engineering, Quality and Suppliers to ensure timely procurement and on-time delivery.

You will develop production plans from forecasts and orders, issue work orders, monitor MRP messages, negotiate with suppliers, and manage inventory to balance cost and availability.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in purchasing, planning, manufacturing, or supply chain.
• Experience with ERP/MRP in a manufacturing environment (SAP preferred).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient in Excel and MS Office applications.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain production and material plans based on demand forecasts, customer orders, and manufacturing schedules.
• Issue and maintain Production Work Orders
• Review MRP messages and take actions to ensure material availability.
• Monitor inventory levels and adjust planning parameters to optimize supply and demand alignment.
• Coordinate with production teams to resolve material shortages and schedule changes.
• Support capacity planning by balancing material availability with manufacturing requirements.
• Create and manage purchase orders for raw materials, components, tooling, and indirect supplies.
• Maintain supplier delivery schedules and expedite orders when required.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, and delivery commitments with suppliers.
• Monitor supplier performance related to quality, delivery, responsiveness, and cost.
• Ensure purchase orders are accurate and comply with company procurement policies.
• Maintain inventory levels that support production while minimizing excess and obsolete inventory.
• Analyze inventory trends and implement actions to improve inventory turns and accuracy.
• Participate in cycle count reviews and inventory reconciliation activities.
• Manage excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory reduction initiatives.
• Develop strong supplier relationships to improve reliability and performance.
• Collaborate with suppliers to address shortages, quality issues, and delivery concerns.
• Support supplier risk management and continuity planning activities.
• Assist with supplier qualification and performance review processes.
• Work closely with Engineering on new product introductions and engineering change implementation.
• Partner with Quality to ensure supplier compliance with quality requirements.
• Support Operations and Program Management teams in achieving customer delivery commitments.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing supply chain performance.
• Other duties as required

Skills

ERP/MRP experience

Analytical skills

Excel proficiency

Communication skills

Time management

Tools

SAP

Job description

Teledyne in Elkridge, MD is seeking a Buyer/Planner responsible for planning, purchasing, and coordinating materials to support manufacturing while maintaining optimal inventory. The role collaborates with Production, Engineering, Quality and Suppliers to ensure timely procurement and on-time delivery.

You will develop production plans from forecasts and orders, issue work orders, monitor MRP messages, negotiate with suppliers, and manage inventory to balance cost and availability.