Buyer/Planner at Sound Seal Inc – Ogden, Utah

Location: Ogden, UT

Business Unit: RealAcoustix (Catalyst Acoustics Group)

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Reports To: President

Role Objective

RealAcoustix, a recent acquisition within Catalyst Acoustics Group, is seeking a hands-on Buyer to help build and advance the purchasing function within a wood manufacturing environment. This role is ideal for someone who is comfortable operating in a growth-stage organization, where processes are being developed, refined, and scaled.

The Buyer will move the organization from a transactional, reactive purchasing model to a proactive, forward-looking supply and inventory planning approach that improves inventory accuracy, forecasting, cash flow, and cost discipline. This role requires strong supply-and-demand planning acumen, comfort with technology, and the ability to translate data into structured buying decisions.

Key Responsibilities

Supply & Demand Planning

· Understand and manage supply and demand aligned with wood manufacturing production schedules

· Analyze and manage supplier lead times to support production and shipping requirements

· Take a forward-looking approach to inventory planning, balancing:

o Cash flow

o Inventory on hand

o Production needs

· Release and adjust purchase orders as needed in response to schedule or demand changes

Buying & Vendor Management

· Own purchasing responsibilities end-to-end for assigned material categories

· Actively engage suppliers rather than passively placing orders

· Negotiate pricing, terms, and delivery timing with vendors

· Maintain awareness of supplier cycles, constraints, and lead-time variability

· Build and maintain a vendor scorecard, evaluating:

o Lead-time performance

o Pricing competitiveness

o Payment terms

o Quality, service level, and responsiveness

Inventory Management & Cost Discipline

· Review inventory levels and identify opportunities to:

o Reduce excess inventory

o Improve inventory turns

o Increase accuracy and forecasting reliability

· Perform regular inventory counts and audits, and investigate/resolve inventory discrepancies

· Lead cost-savings initiatives, particularly for consumables and repeat-buy items

· Develop structured material lists and sourcing strategies, replacing ad-hoc ordering

· Key material categories include:

o Wood products and raw materials used in manufacturing and crating

o Glue, blades, paper, cartons, shrink wrap

o Crate materials and shop consumables

o Office and general plant supplies

· Leverage existing corporate sourcing agreements where applicable and identify additional efficiencies

Process Development & Technology Enablement

· Help build and document SOPs for purchasing, inventory control, and order close-out

· Use technology and systems to improve:

o Inventory accuracy

o Forecasting

o Purchasing discipline

· Partner with Operations, Warehouse teams and Finance to improve data integrity, accuracy and process flow

Order Close-Out & Inventory Accuracy

· Partner with Operations to ensure purchase orders are properly closed once production is complete

· Ensure inventory is accurately reconciled after orders ship

· Allocate remaining materials correctly to maintain inventory integrity

What We’re Looking For

Core Competencies

· Proactive and self-directed – does not wait to be told what to buy

· Hands-on – comfortable being in the details and owning outcomes

· Analytical – confident working with data, inventory levels, and trends

· Process-oriented – enjoys building structure, SOPs, and scalable systems

· Collaborative – works effectively with Operations, Scheduling, and Finance

· Adaptable – comfortable in a new acquisition environment where processes are evolving

Ideal Background

· Experience as a Buyer or Purchasing Specialist in a manufacturing environment

· Strong understanding of inventory management, supply planning, and vendor negotiation

· Experience supporting or leading a transition from reactive purchasing to structured buying discipline

· Experience in wood manufacturing or related industrial environments strongly preferred

· Comfortable using ERP systems, Excel, and other tools to support purchasing decisions

Why This Role Is Unique

· Opportunity to build and shape the buying function for a growing business

· High visibility and meaningful impact on cost, inventory, and operational efficiency

· Hands-on role with room to evolve as the organization scales

EEO Statement

Catalyst Acoustics Group is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs.