Planner/Buyer, Materials Management

What Materials Management contributes to Cardinal Health
Operations is responsible for materials handling and product distribution in a distribution or manufacturing environment. Includes warehousing and fulfillment of materials and products, transportation, inventory management as well as demand, supply and manufacturing planning.

Materials Management is responsible for the management of material inventory levels to ensure that raw material components and manufactured products are available when needed to satisfy the plant and customer requirements. Responsibilities include the planning and procurement of material components to minimize obsolescence and overstock situations while achieving maximum customer service levels.

Job Summary

Performs all aspects of buying for the company and for managing the inventory, distribution and control of those items for the company location. The buyer must identify the products that are to be purchased, identify the most appropriate supplier for the products, confirm all aspects of pricing, confirm all deliveries and maintain an inventory control database. The position reports to the Supervisor of Materials Management.

Responsibilities 

• Creates and monitors the Master Production Schedule, balancing net requirements with collection volumes and tracking progress through completion.

• Ensures accuracy of all ERP, Kinaxis, and Agile master data for raw materials, WIP, finished goods, and collections materials, including capacities, lot sizes, Bills of Materials, and production routers, in partnership with Engineering and Finance.

• Performs short- and long-term forecasting and tracking of materials through the procurement cycle.

• Leads purchasing of direct materials and reschedules material orders based on MRP production requirements and collections volumes.

• Calculates and maintains safety stock for critical materials and ensures proper planning/buying methodologies to mitigate Excess & Obsolete (E&O) risks for all material types.

• Assists with inventory discrepancy research and resolution, and coordinates the final disposition of obsolete materials.

• Collaborates with Sourcing on vendor issues, new vendor onboarding, and supply disruption resolutions.

• Communicates effectively with internal and external partners (e.g., Supply Planning, Collections teams, Sourcing, Engineering, Finance, vendors) regarding production lines and raw materials movement.

• Tracks production against the schedule from sorting through sterilization to quality release for shipment to distribution.

• Handles accounts payable discrepancy research and resolution, and performs purchase order cleanup routines to ensure timely vendor payments and clear open receivables.

Qualifications

• 4-8 years of experience, preferred.

• Bachelor's degree in related field, or equivalent work experience, preferred.

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and able to effectively analyze and calculate data sets for improvements and meeting service/financial goals.

• Ability to translate OEE data into average throughput per shift for process capacity calculations and production process bottleneck identification.

• BPCS, SAP, AP Cora, and strong Microsoft Excel experience, preferred.

• Excellent organization, communication, and interpersonal skills.

What is expected of you and others at this level

• Applies comprehensive knowledge and a thorough understanding of concepts, principles, and technical capabilities to perform varied tasks and projects.

• May contribute to the development of policies and procedures.

• Works on complex projects of large scope.

• Develops technical solutions to a wide range of difficult problems.

• Solutions are innovative and consistent with organization objectives.

• Completes work; independently receives general guidance on new projects.

• Work reviewed for purpose of meeting objectives.

• May act as a mentor to less experienced colleagues.

Anticipated salary range: $67,500 - $96,300

Bonus eligible: No

Benefits: Cardinal Health offers a wide variety of benefits and programs to support health and well-being.

• Medical, dental and vision coverage

• Paid time off plan

• Health savings account (HSA)

• 401k savings plan

• Access to wages before pay day with myFlexPay

• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• Work-Life resources

• Paid parental leave

• Healthy lifestyle programs

Application window anticipated to close: 12/08/2025 *if interested in opportunity, please submit application as soon as possible.

The salary range listed is an estimate. Pay at Cardinal Health is determined by multiple factors including, but not limited to, a candidate’s geographical location, relevant education, experience and skills and an evaluation of internal pay equity.

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Candidates who are back-to-work, people with disabilities, without a college degree, and Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Cardinal Health supports an inclusive workplace that values diversity of thought, experience and background. We celebrate the power of our differences to create better solutions for our customers by ensuring employees can be their authentic selves each day. Cardinal Health is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, veteran status, marital status, creed, status with regard to public assistance, genetic status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.

Salary : $67,500 - $96,300