Our client is hiring an experienced Buyer/Planner for a 6 month contract. You'll play a critical role in their supply chain and procurement operations, with a specific focus on sourcing and managing field service equipment, tools, and instruments and assisting with the implementation of a new MRP.
The ideal candidate has 5 years of Buyer/Planner experience, expert level Excel skills, and experience implementing an ERP system (from a user/functional perspective). You have excellent communication and negotiation skills to work collaboratively as well as independently. You have experience working closely with international suppliers (primarily Asia). Finally, you have a strong business acumen to control inventory, assist with forecasting, and negotiate pricing with vendors. 

There's WFH flexibility for this role, but you must be located near Suwanee, GA.

Key Responsibilities:

• Procurement:

  • Source, purchase, and manage field service equipment, tools, instruments, and related supplies.

  • Negotiate contracts, terms, and pricing agreements with equipment suppliers to optimize cost savings.

  • Develop and maintain strong relationships with field equipment suppliers.

• Inventory Management:

  • Maintain accurate inventory levels of field equipment and supplies to support field operations.

  • Monitor and manage inventory turnover, equipment condition, and maintenance schedules.

  • Implement and adhere to inventory control processes and policies.

• Planning:

  • Create and maintain equipment availability schedules and maintenance plans to ensure uninterrupted field operations.

  • Analyze field equipment demand and lead times to adjust procurement strategies as needed.

  • Collaborate with field service teams to align equipment procurement activities with operational goals.

• Quality Assurance:

  • Ensure that all field equipment meets quality and safety standards.

  • Collaborate with field service and maintenance teams to resolve any equipment-related issues.

• Cost Optimization:

  • Continuously seek opportunities to reduce procurement costs, streamline field equipment processes, and improve efficiency.

  • Evaluate and recommend alternative field equipment suppliers or brands to optimize cost-effectiveness.

• Reporting:

  • Generate and analyze procurement and field equipment inventory reports to provide insights into performance, trends, and opportunities for improvement.

  • Prepare regular reports for management, highlighting key metrics and areas of concern.

Skills and experience required for success:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 5 years of experience in procurement, planning, inventory control, and/or supply chain management, with a specific focus on consumer electronic products, tools, instruments or equipment.
• Expert Excel skills - you can understand a problem and build Excel models to illustrate/solve it.
• Experience assisting in the implementation of an ERP/MRP system and becoming an expert user.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively with internal and external resources.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and time management skills; detail-oriented and organized.