Overview
We are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Purchasing & Inventory Planner (Buyer) to join our team. This role is essential in managing procurement activities, maintaining optimal inventory levels, and fostering strong vendor relationships. The ideal candidate will be responsible for coordinating purchasing processes, utilizing ERP and supply chain management systems, and ensuring seamless communication with vendors to support the company's operational efficiency and supply chain integrity.
Duties
- Set reorder quantities and timing for a few hundred SKUs using current stock, run rates, open orders, and vendor lead times , some of which are 60 to 120 days.
- Plan around forecasted demands that are not always steady. You will build inventory ahead of known demand spikes and avoid overbuying between them.
- Create and manage purchase orders in Sage 100, confirm pricing and ship dates with vendors, and follow up when shipments slip.
- Reconcile what was ordered, what was received, and what was invoiced, and flag discrepancies.
- Maintain vendor pricing, lead-time, and minimum-order records so the reorder math stays accurate.
- Source and quote alternate vendors when an item is discontinued, backordered, or repriced.
- Utilize spreadsheets and ERP systems to track inventory levels, purchase orders, and supply chain data.
- Communicate effectively with vendors to negotiate prices, lead times, and terms to secure favorable agreements.
- Oversee inventory management processes to ensure stock levels meet production and sales demands without excess.
- Maintain strong vendor relationship management to foster collaboration, resolve issues, and improve supply chain performance.
- Coordinate with internal teams to forecast demand and plan procurement schedules accordingly.
- Monitor supply chain operations to identify potential disruptions and implement corrective actions proactively.
- Coordinate with the warehouse on receiving and with manger on cash timing for larger orders.
Experience
- Proven experience in purchasing, procurement, or inventory planning within a fast-paced environment.
- Familiarity with ERP systems and purchasing management software is required.
- Strong analytical skills with proficiency in spreadsheets for data analysis and reporting.
- Excellent communication skills for vendor negotiations and relationship management.
- Knowledge of supply chain management principles and inventory control practices.
- Ability to work collaboratively across departments to align procurement strategies with business needs.
About the company
Charlene Products has supplied the professional beauty industry in Bolingbrook, Illinois since 1986. We design and manufacture our own line of tools and mannequins, and distribute several hundred third-party salon and barber products to cosmetology schools across the country. We also sell direct to salons and consumers through our own website and Amazon.
