Job Description

Associate Buyer Planner

Salary Range 56,000-70,000 annually DOE

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Use statistical methods and software (ForecastPro) to develop accurate demand planning forecasts globally for the brands you own in your Product Franchise.
• Own the standard demand planning cycle for brands you own and conduct global demand consensus review(s) with sales, marketing, and other relevant departments to gather demand forecasts and market insights (e.g. sales growth, sales declines, brand rationalizations, new product launches and impact to demand for specific brands).
• Manage advanced planning parameters to ensure optimal net requirements planning, upload demand forecasts as applicable etc.
• Work with Finance to ensure the demand plan aligns with financial growth targets by brand and course correct as needed.
• Own and improve the forecasting process for the Product Franchise.
• Use historical data, market trends, and predictive analytics to generate accurate demand forecasts, analytical skills with the ability to interpret and leverage data for decision-making.
• Evaluate and own the accuracy of demand forecasts (i.e. your KPIs and targets), adjusting as necessary, to minimize forecast errors which lead to inventory stockouts and back orders, or excess and obsolete inventory.
• Participate in the implementation and enhancement of supply chain planning tools and software, as applicable.
• Understand various warehouses, inventory, and planning data in SAP.
• Lead bid evaluations; contract awards based on best quality, price and lead time performance; contract negotiations; and ongoing supplier relationship management activities for assigned material categories.
• Assess supplier capability, capacity, and cost to allocate annual spend to qualified suppliers optimizing service, quality, and cost. 
• Visit existing and potential supplier facilities to evaluate manufacturing processes, capabilities, recent investments, potential for growth, performance trends, etc.
• Lead regular supplier production reviews to ensure needed capacity and on-time delivery.
• Review net requirements against supply and demand; manage open order exceptions with your Product Franchise and use the information to ensure accurate forecasting is achieved.
• Monitor inventory levels to mitigate stockouts while maintaining cost effective operational expenses.
• Coordinate new supplier qualification activities.
• Plan, organize, control, and execute new product introduction projects on time including oversight of the supply chains and forecasted demand for Legacy (i.e. existing) and NPI products.
• Manage, with your Product Franchise, the annual spend budget to ensure purchase pace is achieved for inventory and instruments.  
• Regularly review your KPIs; develop and execute strategies to address unfavorable results, and own results and deliverables to achieve success.
• Identify and lead closure of business process gaps; collaborate with stakeholders to drive business process improvement for planning and inventory.
• Act as a liaison between suppliers and internal departments such as Engineering, Quality, Marketing, and Finance.
• Be a team player, and exude, every day, the Highridge Medical Values: Radical Responsiveness, Relentless Grit, and Remarkable Results.  
• Understand and act upon Operational KPIs including working capital, inventory turns, DOH/MOH, E&O, and financial reporting.
• Professionally present information orally or in written format (i.e., MS Word, MS PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Ensure that all activities are carried out in accordance with company policies and practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

This is not an exhaustive list of duties or functions and may not necessarily comprise all of the "essential functions" for purposes of the ADA.

Education/Experience Requirements:

• Four-year Degree (B.S/B.A.) required.
• 0 - 3 years of experience in related field such as supply planning, purchasing, or supply chain.
• APICS CSCP/CPIM certification preferred. 
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, including advance level Excel skills.
• Highly effective communication skills.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong time management skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, prioritize appropriately and handle multiple tasks and projects simultaneously with various cross functional teams.
• SAP experience preferred.
• Previous medical device experience preferred.