Job Summary & ResponsibilitiesPosition SummaryThe Master Planner / Buyer is responsible for end-to-end master planning, scheduling, and purchasing of production materials. This role performs forward-looking demand analysis against backlog, sales forecast, and historical consumption and ensures optimal inventory levels and on-time material availability. The Master Planner / Buyer works cross-functionally with Production, Sales, Engineering, Quality, and the corporate purchasing team in Milpitas to support uninterrupted production, leverage corporate bulk purchasing agreements, and drive continuous improvement.
This role operates in a recently restructured Materials function and partners closely with corporate purchasing in Milpitas; comfort with ambiguity and a process-builder mindset are important.
Key ResponsibilitiesMaster Planning & Scheduling- Perform master planning against backlog, forecast, and historical consumption to project demand beyond the supplier lead-time horizon.
- Establish and maintain Plan-for-Every-Part (PFEP) parameters: lead time, MOQ, safety stock, reorder points, and order policy.
- Conduct rough-cut capacity reviews and actively participate in S&OP / SIOP cycles.
- Translate the master plan into a Master Production Schedule (MPS) and detailed material plans, releasing planned orders accordingly.
- Analyze demand forecasts, production plans, and inventory levels to prevent shortages or excess stock.
- Monitor material availability and proactively resolve supply constraints.
Purchasing & Vendor Management- Issue purchase orders in accordance with MRP signals, contracts, and company policies.
- Lead supplier negotiations on price, lead time, MOQ, payment terms, and contract terms; drive lead-time reduction initiatives and cost-saving opportunities.
- Own supplier scorecards (on-time delivery, quality PPM, NCR rate, responsiveness) and conduct Quarterly Business Reviews with key vendors.
- Drive Corrective Action Plans (8D / CAPA) when suppliers miss performance targets; track containment, root cause, and verification of effectiveness.
- Identify single-source risks and develop qualified second sources in partnership with Engineering and Quality; maintain a supplier risk register for critical commodities.
- Partner with Quality on supplier onboarding, supplier audits, ISO compliance verification, first-article approvals, and supplier agreements.
- Lead recovery efforts when vendors miss commits-pull-ins, alternate sourcing, premium freight decisions, and customer-impact communication.
- Monitor contract expirations, payment terms, MOQ/lead-time clauses, and price-change notifications; push back on unjustified price increases with data.
- Maintain accurate vendor master data in Oracle ERP (lead times, MOQs, prices, certifications) so MRP signals reflect reality.
Inventory Management- Maintain optimal inventory levels while meeting service and production requirements.
- Analyze inventory turns, excess/obsolete inventory, and slow-moving materials.
- Support cycle counts, inventory accuracy initiatives, and root cause analysis of discrepancies.
Corporate Purchasing Coordination (Milpitas)- Coordinate with the Milpitas corporate purchasing team to leverage bulk purchasing agreements, consolidated contracts, and preferred-vendor programs.
- Identify Tucson-specific spend that can be rolled into corporate buys for improved pricing leverage.
- Escalate vendor and contract issues to Milpitas where corporate-level intervention is appropriate.
Cross-Functional Collaboration- Coordinate with Production, Engineering, Quality, and Operations to align material plans with production needs.
- Support new product introductions (NPI), engineering changes, and phase-in/phase-out activities.
- Communicate material status, risks, and mitigation plans to internal stakeholders.
Continuous Improvement & Compliance- Identify opportunities for process improvements in planning, purchasing, and inventory management.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, quality standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Support audits and maintain accurate documentation and system data integrity.
Key Performance Indicators- On-time delivery to production schedule (OTD).
- Inventory turns and excess/obsolete (E&O) reduction.
- Purchase Price Variance (PPV) versus plan.
- Supplier on-time delivery percentage and quality PPM.
- Past-due PO aging and open-PO management.
- Schedule attainment / MPS adherence.
- MRP exception clearing cadence and timeliness.
QualificationsEducation- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
Experience- 3-7 years of experience in planning and buying within a manufacturing environment, with at least 2 years in a buyer/purchaser capacity and 2 years in planning/MRP.
- Hands-on experience with Oracle ERP preferred, including MRP modules, item master maintenance, purchasing transactions, and standard procurement reports.
Skills & Competencies- Strong analytical, organizational, and written/verbal communication skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and problem-solve in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Working knowledge of procurement best practices, including PO-to-pay cycle, three-way match, blanket vs. discrete POs, Kanban/min-max replenishment, consignment, and VMI.
- Negotiation skills with vendors on price, lead time, MOQ, payment terms, and contract terms.
- Contract literacy: terms & conditions, NDAs, blanket POs, and scheduling agreements.
- Familiarity with Incoterms and basic import/logistics concepts.
- Cost analysis and total cost of ownership (TCO) thinking, not lowest-PO-price thinking.
- Data fluency beyond Excel: pivot tables, Power BI.
- Capacity planning, S&OP/SIOP participation, and ability to translate executive demand signals into actionable plans.
- Engineering Change Order (ECO) discipline, including revision control and obsolete-stock disposition decisions.
- Conflict management and the ability to influence cross-functionally without direct authority.
- Awareness of regulatory and trade compliance.
- Adherence to company ethics, conflict-of-interest, and gifts policy in all vendor interactions.
Preferred Qualifications- APICS/ASCM CPIM strongly preferred (required within 18 months of hire); CSCP a plus.
- ISM CPSM or CPSD certification (purchasing-side) a plus.
- Experience with lean manufacturing or continuous improvement initiatives.
Working Conditions- Primarily office-based with frequent interaction on the manufacturing floor.
- Travel up to 10% to supplier sites and the corporate office in Milpitas.
- Standard business hours with flexibility based on production demands.
- Physical demands include occasional lifting up to 25 lbs
- Occasional after-hours availability during material shortages or supply recovery situations.
Compensation & Growth• Base Salary Range:
$73,600.00 - $110,400.00, offered in good faith and based on experience, location, and qualifications.
- Additional Rewards: Annual bonus opportunities and potential long-term incentives tied to both company and individual success.
