Job Title: Buyer Planner I

Job Description

The Buyer Planner I plays a critical, dual-function role within the supply chain team, managing a unique portfolio that spans suppliers, university lab providers, co-packers, contract manufacturers, and internal manufacturing sites. This position oversees the end-to-end procurement and planning cycle, from sourcing through customer delivery, ensuring timely and accurate material movement, purchase orders, shipments, inventory transfers, and vendor coordination. The role offers broad exposure to procurement, planning, logistics, supplier management, and cross-functional operations, and provides the opportunity to directly impact customer satisfaction and overall supply chain performance in an industry-leading life sciences organization.

Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end procurement cycle, including creating, executing, and maintaining purchase orders, work orders, and fulfillment activities.
• Monitor supplier performance and manage key vendor and supplier relationships to ensure reliable delivery and quality of materials and products.
• Track domestic and international shipments, including coordinating logistics, monitoring transit status, and handling customs documentation as needed.
• Resolve shipment and invoice discrepancies promptly to keep orders on track and maintain accurate financial and inventory records.
• Coordinate inventory movement and intercompany transfers between manufacturing sites, suppliers, co-packers, and distribution locations.
• Manage dropship orders and oversee the dropship process to ensure timely and accurate delivery directly from third-party suppliers to customers.
• Support and manage monthly retests and related inventory activities to maintain product availability and compliance with internal requirements.
• Maintain accurate ERP system transactions, including purchase orders, work orders, inventory transfers, and shipment updates, with a strong focus on data integrity.
• Manage and update sales order ship dates in the ERP system, providing time-sensitive status updates to internal stakeholders to keep customer orders on schedule.
• Communicate proactively with cross-functional teams, including Supply Chain, Operations, Sales, Finance, Product Management, and Customer Service, to align on priorities and resolve supply chain issues.
• Monitor and coordinate site-to-site transfers to ensure optimal inventory positioning across internal manufacturing and distribution locations.
• Identify and resolve supply chain issues related to procurement, logistics, vendor performance, and inventory movement to minimize disruptions.
• Collaborate with contract manufacturers, co-packers, and third-party suppliers to support production planning, material availability, and product flow.
• Use advanced Excel skills to analyze supply chain data, track key metrics, and support planning and procurement decisions.
• Support day-to-day supply chain activities with strong attention to detail, organization, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 2+ years of experience in supply planning, materials planning, purchasing, production planning, or supply chain operations.
• Proven experience managing purchase orders, vendor relationships, and inventory movement across multiple locations or partners.
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems for procurement, planning, and inventory management; NetSuite experience strongly preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, including the ability to manage and analyze data to support planning and procurement decisions.
• Experience tracking shipments and resolving supply chain issues related to logistics, delivery, and inventory discrepancies.
• Experience coordinating transfers between manufacturing sites, suppliers, co-packers, or distribution locations.
• Strong cross-functional communication skills, with the ability to provide clear, time-sensitive updates to internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities with high attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Experience working with dropship orders, contract manufacturers, co-packers, or third-party suppliers.
• Experience in supply chain, logistics, procurement, or supply chain management, with practical experience in supply planning and materials planning.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with NetSuite ERP is preferred and considered a strong advantage.
• Experience in environments such as manufacturing, medical device, life sciences, food production, consumer products, industrial, electronics, or distribution.
• Knowledge of shipment tracking processes, including international shipping and customs documentation.
• Experience with site-to-site transfers and intercompany inventory movement.
• Familiarity with contract manufacturing and co-packer management in a supply chain context.
• Ability to work collaboratively with Sales, Product Management, Customer Service, Operations, and Finance teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to resolve supply chain and logistics issues quickly and effectively.
• Detail-oriented and organized work style, with a strong focus on supporting day-to-day supply chain activities.
• Comfort working in a portfolio-based role that spans procurement, planning, logistics, and supplier management.
• Interest in contributing to an industry-leading life sciences organization with a long history of innovation and growth.

Work Environment

This is a fully onsite position in a collaborative, cross-functional environment that closely supports Supply Chain, Operations, Sales, Finance, Product Management, and Customer Service teams. The standard schedule is Monday through Friday, typically from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with a preference for an 8:00 AM start and minimal to no overtime expected. The role operates within an industry-leading life sciences organization with nearly 50 years of innovation and continued growth through acquisitions and portfolio expansion. The work setting emphasizes teamwork, clear communication, and shared ownership of a unique supply chain portfolio that spans global suppliers, manufacturing partners, co-packers, and internal sites. You will work extensively with ERP systems (NetSuite preferred), Excel, and standard supply chain and logistics tools in a professional office environment.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Newark, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $37.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 29, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Newark, CA.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.