Senior Supply Chain Planner/Buyer

Synapse is seeking a Senior Supply Chain Planner/Buyer to join our supply chain team. This role combines material planning and purchasing responsibilities into a single position, owning both the demand/supply plan for assigned commodities and the purchase orders that fulfill it. The Senior Planner/Buyer will work closely with production, receiving inspection, and inventory management to ensure the right materials arrive at the right time to keep product moving out the door, while also driving cost savings and process improvements across their assigned commodity portfolio.

The successful candidate has senior-level experience in a manufacturing or technology environment, a strong working knowledge of supply chain and MRP/ERP concepts, and is comfortable owning a planning-to-PO cycle end to end with minimal oversight. This role carries expanded expectations around proactive cost savings and continuous improvement beyond the standard Planner/Buyer position.

Responsibilities

• Generate and maintain material requirements plans (MRP) for assigned commodities, translating production schedules and forecasts into purchase requirements
• Convert planning requirements into purchase requisitions and negotiated purchase orders
• Create, issue, and monitor purchase orders; track open and closed PO status and follow up on delivery commitments
• Create and maintain reports on open orders, past-due receipts, and inventory exposure by commodity
• Work with receiving inspection and inventory management to confirm deliveries satisfy the assigned purchase order, and resolve back-ordered, short, or non-conforming shipments
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels (safety stock, reorder points, lead times) for materials used on a regular basis
• Establish reliable lines of communication with production and field teams to ensure purchase orders reflect accurate, current requirements
• Purchase commodities and services to meet specialized or complex needs, following proper channels for purchase authorization per company policy
• Review quotes, secure competitive bids, and select vendors based on quality, price, delivery, and reliability
• Proactively seek out and negotiate the best available pricing across assigned commodities, going beyond reactive quote comparison to actively pursue cost savings opportunities with existing and new suppliers
• Investigate and cultivate new sources of supply to reduce single-source risk and support cost-reduction goals
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve planning and purchasing process efficiency, and lead or support implementation of process improvements across the supply chain team
• Communicate proactively with vendors on order status, discrepancies, and documentation needs
• Escalate material shortages or supply risks to the Supply Chain Manager with recommended mitigation options
• Serve as a resource and informal mentor to junior planners/buyers on planning methodology, negotiation approach, and system best practices

Required Skillset

• 8-10 years of combined experience in material planning, scheduling, or purchasing in a manufacturing or technology environment
• Strong working knowledge of MRP/ERP systems for planning and purchasing (experience with Microsoft Business Central or similar ERP preferred)
• Advanced understanding of supply chain fundamentals: demand planning, safety stock, lead time management, and inventory control
• Proven negotiation skills with a track record of achieving measurable cost savings and managing supplier relationships
• Demonstrated ability to identify and lead process improvement initiatives within a planning or purchasing function
• Proficiency in MS Excel and MS Word; comfort building and maintaining status reports
• Impeccable attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight, prioritize across multiple commodities, and thrive in a fast-paced, understaffed environment
• Team-oriented mindset with a focus on clear communication across production, receiving, and inventory functions
• Bachelor's degree preferred; APICS/CPIM or similar certification a plus

Compensation

Pay: $85,000 - $100,000 per year, based on experience

Full Time Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid time off

Job Type: Full time

Work Location: Huntsville, AL

Pay: $85,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $85,000 - $100,000