Planner Buyer

Job Overview

The Planner Buyer is responsible for coordinating material availability, production scheduling, purchasing activity, customer order release, subcontract support, and inventory management to support customer delivery and factory execution. This role works closely with Production Planning, Operations, Quality, suppliers, Customer Service, other Hubbell plants, and local subcontract partners to ensure materials are available when needed and orders are released based on accurate lead times and material readiness.

This is a local site role because it requires direct coordination with the factory, local suppliers, subcontract partners, other plants, and physical material flow. The position supports hands-on rework activity, subcontract builds, component sourcing from within the factory, returned material processing, and local follow-up needed to keep production and customer orders moving.

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A Day In The Life

Planning, Purchasing & Material Availability

• Coordinate production scheduling with Production Planning to meet customer and stocking requirements.
• Purchase assigned raw material, work-in-process material, subcontract material, and finished goods.
• Release customer orders from the planning queue based on material availability and lead times.
• Release purchase requisitions and purchase orders to buyers and suppliers.
• Manage inventory levels for assigned products and take action when inventory does not support demand.

Customer Delivery & Order Management

• Drive customer on-time delivery and demonstrated lead time performance while maintaining appropriate inventory levels.
• Maintain current promise dates on customer orders and work with Customer Service when delivery expectations change.
• Expedite parts inside and outside the company to support customer commitments and production needs.
• Support customer returned goods through the returned goods process.

Factory, Supplier & Subcontract Coordination

• Work with Quality, Manufacturing, and suppliers to resolve material or quality concerns.
• Schedule work through the shop floor by coordinating with Production Planning and local manufacturing teams.
• Coordinate with B&K for rework and subcontract processes that require direct local follow-up.
• Work with Homeyer to procure raw materials used to manufacture brackets and support subcontract purchase orders tied to that inventory.
• Work with other plants to support rework needs for materials received from the distribution center and routed to B&K.
• Source components from within the factory to support subcontract builds at B&K.
• Partner directly with the factory to process components needed for subcontract builds.

Expected Outcomes

• Improved material availability to support production and customer delivery.
• More accurate order release decisions based on realistic lead times and material readiness.
• Reduced shortages, late orders, and production interruptions tied to material flow.
• Stronger coordination between Production Planning, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Quality, suppliers, subcontract partners, and Customer Service.
• Better control over inventory levels, subcontract activity, returned goods, and local factory support needs.

What will help you thrive in this role?

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain, Operations, or a related field preferred.
• Experience in purchasing, production planning, materials management, inventory control, or manufacturing support.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
• SAP experience preferred.
• Ability to work closely with local Manufacturing teams, suppliers, subcontractors, Customer Service, Quality, and Production Planning.
• Strong follow-up skills and the ability to manage urgent material issues without losing sight of longer-term inventory and delivery goals.
• Ability to understand shop floor constraints, material movement, customer order timing, and subcontract requirements.
• Detail-oriented approach with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to adjust priorities as factory needs change.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally across departments, plants, suppliers, and subcontract partners.