Buyer/Planner

Description

Managed through the Riverbend Industries portfolio, Phoenix Manufacturing (PMI) is a leading manufacturer and provider of evaporative cooling systems for residential, commercial and industrial applications. PMI prides itself on the quality and innovation that go into every product.  

Riverbend Industries (RBI) is a private family-owned portfolio holding company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The portfolio is primarily comprised of several small, independently operated, previously family-run businesses in the light manufacturing and distribution sectors. The portfolio is a long-term holder of its investments/assets and plans to grow both organically and through acquisitions into the near future.

Position Summary

The Buyer/Planner will be responsible for developing and maintaining daily or weekly reviews of purchased parts to ensure timely availability of raw materials in support of production schedules. This role will identify and implement actions necessary to meet demand requirements, proactively addressing any issues that may impact production due to material shortages. In addition, the Buyer/Planner will play a key role in the efficient procurement of maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) materials. Responsibilities include strategic sourcing, vendor management, and maintaining optimal inventory levels to support continuous operations. This position will also collaborate closely with Sales and Product Management to develop and manage long-range material forecasts. These efforts will take into account current inventory, obsolescence risks, supplier lead times, product life cycles, and overall production capacity to ensure alignment with business objectives.

Essential Job Functions

The Buyer/Planner will play a vital role in supporting procurement, production planning, and inventory management functions. This position requires a high level of organization, attention to detail, and effective communication across departments to ensure timely and accurate material availability for production operations.  Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Perform all duties in accordance with established safety procedures and company policies. 
• Support the Materials & Procurement Manager in establishing forecasting processes and maintaining short- and medium-term production and inventory plans. 
• Assist in the development and execution of the “Clear to Build” plan based on system-generated demand. 
• Coordinate and execute purchase order shortage reports to proactively mitigate production schedule impacts.
• Collaborate closely with the Materials & Procurement Manager to ensure raw material availability supports production needs and provide timely updates to Sales and Marketing regarding any deviations. 
• Provide transactional and procedural support to production floor Supervisors, Coordinators, and Inventory Clerks.
• Support the scheduling and ramp-up of new product introductions. 
• Record and track production data, including raw material consumption, production output, and quality control metrics. 
• Enter completed work orders and generate required reports (daily, weekly, monthly) in a timely and accurate manner. 
• Create and issue accurate purchase orders to approved suppliers, ensuring proper item specifications, quantities, and pricing. 
• Resolve order discrepancies, including damaged goods or incorrect shipments, and coordinate appropriate corrective actions. 
• Analyze and manage procurement-related costs to support budgetary goals. 
• Contribute to the development and refinement of procurement and inventory management policies. 
• Identify opportunities for process improvement to increase efficiency and accuracy in procurement functions. 
• Act as a liaison between the office and the manufacturing floor, supporting coordination of materials and information flow. 
• Lead root cause analysis efforts for material shortages impacting production and drive implementation of corrective actions. 
• Take ownership of preventing production disruptions due to raw material shortages. 
• Identify and analyze cycle count discrepancies and provide actionable root cause analysis. 
• Develop and implement strategies to streamline processes, improve data accuracy, and enhance operational efficiency. 
• Support team members by providing guidance and direction in the application of inventory control systems and procedures. 
• Build and maintain strong working relationships across all levels of employees and suppliers. 
• Demonstrate strong organizational, verbal, and written communication skills. 
• Proactively anticipate needs and provide timely, relevant solutions. 
• Maintain a high level of discretion when handling sensitive and confidential information. 
• Adapt quickly to changing priorities and multi-task effectively in a fast-paced environment. 
• Willingness to work overtime as needed to support production requirements. 
• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business, Supply Chain Management or a related field, or an equivalent combination of formal education      and materials management/manufacturing experience
• Minimum 5-7 years of professional experience with purchasing and/or materials logistics
• Minimum of 2-4 years’ experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, and vendor management 
• Minimum 5-7 years Inventory process experience, analyzing complex data and working with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced distribution operations environment
• Knowledge of market trends, and industry best practices 
• APICS/ASCM – CPIM Certification a plus 
• Software/Technical Skills (Intermediate)
• MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PPT)
• Warehouse Management System Knowledge
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; strong interpersonal and communication skills to interact with all levels of the organization as well as professionally represent the company to outside parties
• Ability to foster and build relationships with cross-functional team members throughout the organization. 
• Ability to effectively explain and interpret organizational policies and procedures
• Superb skills in problem solving and critical thinking with attention to detail and follow-up
• Ability to work as needed, particularly during high volume periods, to ensure that departmental objectives are accomplished
• Capacity to apply a good understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions; deal with problems involving variable in standardized situations; understand fundamental flow of shop material and its problems or material handling 

Physical Conditions

• Ability to remain seated for extended periods
• Ability to stand, walk, kneel, squat, climb, and navigate in closed manufacturing spaces on occasion
• Ability to safely lift and move objects up to twenty-five (25) lbs. over short distances

Work Environment

The work environment described here is representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job the employee will be in an Office-based environment.  All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills, and/or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. 

This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. This position description is not all inclusive.

PMI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.