Position SummaryThe Senior Buyer / Planner is responsible for end-to-end sourcing, procurement, and material planning for raw materials, pharmaceutical-grade resins, components, and packaging required to support production in a regulated BFS aseptic manufacturing environment. This role ensures material availability against the master production schedule, manages supplier relationships and performance, and proactively mitigates supply risk to protect schedule adherence, on-time delivery, and product quality.
Working with a high degree of autonomy, the Senior Buyer / Planner leads supplier negotiations, drives cost-saving initiatives, and partners cross-functionally with Master Scheduling, Operations, Quality, and Finance. Because of the regulated, aseptic nature of BFS manufacturing, this position requires disciplined attention to material quality, lot traceability, change control, and continuity of supply for GMP-critical materials.
Key ResponsibilitiesSourcing & Procurement- Own end-to-end sourcing and procurement of raw materials, pharmaceutical-grade resins, components, and packaging to support uninterrupted production.
- Lead supplier negotiations on pricing, terms, lead times, and contractual commitments.
- Identify and qualify new and alternate suppliers to reduce single-source exposure and strengthen continuity of supply for GMP-critical materials.
- Drive cost-savings and cost-avoidance initiatives while maintaining quality, compliance, and supply assurance.
Material Planning & Availability- Ensure raw material availability aligns with the master production schedule and proactively manage supply and demand to prevent line-down events and schedule disruption.
- Convert planned and firm demand into purchase orders with accurate quantities, lead times, and delivery dates.
- Maintain and optimize ERP planning parameters, including safety stock, lead times, order policies, minimum/maximum levels, and reorder points.
- Monitor open orders; expedite or de-expedite as needed; and manage past-due and at-risk material.
- Manage inventory to target days of supply and turns while minimizing stockouts, obsolescence, and excess inventory for shelf-life-sensitive and lot-controlled materials.
Supply Risk & Continuity- Identify and mitigate risks such as long lead times, single-source dependencies, supplier instability, and capacity constraints before they affect the production plan.
- Develop contingency and risk-mitigation strategies for critical raw materials.
- Reduce reactive expedites and premium freight through improved planning discipline and forward-looking supply visibility.
Supplier Performance & Compliance- Manage supplier performance against quality, delivery, and cost metrics, driving corrective action and continuous improvement.
- Partner with Quality and Regulatory to support supplier qualification, change control, deviation resolution, and GMP compliance for aseptic-grade materials.
- Ensure procurement activities support lot traceability, material specifications, and documentation requirements in a regulated environment.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Continuous Improvement- Partner with Master Scheduling, Operations, Quality, and Finance to align material availability with the production plan and financial commitments.
- Participate in the S&OP / SIOP process, validating material supply against demand and capacity.
- Lead or contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across purchasing, planning, data accuracy, and ERP utilization.
- Operate autonomously in sourcing and prioritization decisions, escalating genuine exceptions.
General Responsibilities- Maintain the effectiveness of Quality System components relevant to the position.
- Identify, evaluate, and manage risk to ensure product quality, and communicate risk policies and processes throughout the organization.
- Provide mentoring to other team members and associates as necessary.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
QualificationsEducation- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, Engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience- Five or more years of progressive buying and planning experience, preferably in pharmaceutical, medical device, or regulated GMP manufacturing.
- Demonstrated experience sourcing and planning materials in support of a master production schedule.
- Proven supplier negotiation, supplier management, and cost-reduction experience.
- Strong ERP/MRP proficiency, such as JD Edwards/JDE, SAP, or Oracle, and advanced Excel skills.
- Solid understanding of inventory management, lead-time management, and demand/supply planning principles.
Knowledge & Skills- Experience in BFS aseptic or sterile fill-finish manufacturing preferred.
- Knowledge of GMP, FDA-regulated materials, change control, and lot traceability requirements.
- APICS/ASCM certification, such as CPIM or CSCP, or active pursuit thereof preferred.
- Experience with resins and pharmaceutical-grade packaging/components.
- Ability to read, write, and speak clear English.
Physical Requirements & Work Environment- Frequent sitting, reading written documents, and using a computer monitor; requires writing, talking, and listening.
- Occasional standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, bending, carrying, and reaching with hands and arms.
- Occasional lifting and/or moving up to 20 pounds.
- Fast-paced, performance-driven, customer-focused, collaborative, and inclusive work environment.
