Buyer or Planner San jose CA

Position Summary
We are seeking a dedicated Buyer/Planner II to directly join our in-house manufacturing team. As a core, full-time member of our company, you will ensure the timely procurement and availability of materials to support our manufacturing, Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO), and field service requirements. Operating within our regulated medical device manufacturing facility, you will manage supplier relationships, execute purchasing activities, mitigate supply chain risks, and optimize our inventory levels.
Please note: This is a direct-hire, in-house position. We are only considering candidates who are local to the South Bay area, as this role requires on-site presence and no relocation assistance is provided.
Key Responsibilities

• Material Planning & Procurement: Analyze MRP recommendations to plan and purchase components. Create and monitor purchase orders through fulfillment to meet our internal manufacturing schedules.
  
  
• Supplier Management: Proactively manage open orders, resolve material shortages, expedite critical deliveries, and lead performance discussions to improve supplier quality and on-time delivery.
  
  
• Inventory Optimization: Implement strategies to maintain healthy stock levels, minimize excess and obsolete (E&O) inventory, and improve inventory turns.   
  
  
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner directly with our internal Quality, Receiving, Manufacturing, and Strategic Sourcing teams to resolve supply issues and support dual-sourcing and cost-reduction initiatives.   
  
  
• NPI & Engineering Support: Maintain accurate data (lead times, supplier info) in QAD ERP and coordinate materials for New Product Introductions (NPI) and Engineering Change Orders (ECOs).   
  
  

Qualifications


Required:   

• Location: Must be local to the South Bay area (100% in-house role; no relocation assistance).   
  
  
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).   
  
  
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years in tactical purchasing, material planning, or manufacturing operations.   
  
  
• Systems: Hands-on experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.   
  
  
• Skills: Strong analytical problem-solving, priority management, and cross-functional communication.   
  
  

Preferred:   

• Experience in medical device or FDA-regulated manufacturing environments.   
  
  
• Familiarity with the QAD ERP system.   
  
  
• APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP).   
  
  
• Experience managing ECOs, NPI, and spare/field service parts.