Domestic Buyer / Planner in Waukesha, Wisconsin at Barco Products LLC

Description: About Barco Products:At Barco Products, we're more than just a company; we're a team of dedicated people passionate about providing our customers with exceptional experiences. From high-quality products to personalized service, we've built our business on innovation and strong relationships. We believe in going the extra mile for our customers, ensuring they feel confident and supported every step of the way.Since 1985, Barco has been committed to innovating and providing high-quality, functionally designed, and durable commercial site furnishings and amenities. We're not a supplier – we're a trusted industry leader known for our dedicated customer service.We design, manufacture, and sell a wide selection of commercial-grade products, including:

• Picnic tables
• Park benches
• Speed bumps and wheel stops
• Waste receptacles
• Parking lot supplies
• ...and much more!

Position SummaryThe Domestic Buyer/Planner is responsible for sourcing and managing the supply of domestically produced components and finished goods, with a strong focus on production scheduling and materials availability to support on-time manufacturing. This role owns the purchasing and scheduling cycle for domestic suppliers and internal production requirements, negotiating cost and terms with suppliers, building and maintaining the production schedule in partnership with Operations, and partnering with Finance to ensure accurate and timely supplier payments. The Domestic Buyer/Planner works closely with Quality, Engineering, Production, and Sales to ensure materials and finished goods meet specification, lead-time, and cost targets, and serves as the primary point of contact for assigned domestic suppliers and the plant production schedule.
Core Responsibilities
1. Domestic Sourcing & Supplier CoordinationSource and manage a portfolio of domestic suppliers for raw materials, components, and finished goods, ensuring alignment with specifications, cost targets, and quality standards.Place, track, and expedite domestic purchase orders, confirming supplier capacity and resolving order discrepancies.Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, conducting regular business reviews and escalating performance issues as needed.
2. Production Scheduling & Capacity PlanningBuild, publish, and maintain the master production schedule, balancing customer demand, material availability, and plant capacity.Partner with Production and Operations leadership to sequence work orders, minimize changeovers, and resolve scheduling conflicts.Monitor daily production attainment against schedule, adjusting priorities and expediting materials to address gaps or bottlenecks.Communicate schedule changes, constraints, and risks to Sales, Customer Service, and Operations to manage customer commitments.
3. Quality & On-Time Delivery ManagementCoordinate with suppliers to confirm capacity, monitor progress against delivery commitments, and flag delays early.Partner with Quality to establish inspection requirements and resolve nonconformance issues with domestic suppliers.Track and report supplier lead times, on-time delivery, and fill-rate performance; drive corrective action plans for underperforming suppliers.
4. Cost Negotiation & Cost ManagementNegotiate unit costs, tooling costs, minimum order quantities, and payment terms with domestic suppliers to meet target margins.Conduct should-cost analysis and benchmark pricing to identify negotiation leverage and cost-reduction opportunities.Lead or support annual cost-reduction and dual-sourcing initiatives in partnership with Engineering and Quality.Evaluate freight and delivery terms with suppliers and carriers to minimize total landed cost.
5. Materials & Inventory PlanningMaintain accurate item master, BOM, and supplier lead-time data in the ERP/MRP system to drive accurate planning.Monitor MRP exception messages and resolve supply/demand imbalances daily.Balance inventory investment against service-level goals, identifying excess/obsolete risk and slow-moving SKUs.
6. Finance & Supplier Payment CoordinationWork with Finance and suppliers to ensure timely, accurate payments and resolve invoice discrepancies.Reconcile supplier invoices against purchase orders and receiving records; resolve pricing or quantity discrepancies.Monitor supplier payment terms to support cash flow and working capital objectives.Support month-end accruals and cost reporting for open purchase orders and WIP inventory.
7. Demand Planning, Forecasting & S&OP SupportDevelop and maintain purchase order and replenishment plans based on sales forecasts, safety stock targets, and supplier lead times.Participate in Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) to align production schedules and purchasing with demand forecasts.Partner with Sales and Demand Planning to align production scheduling and purchasing with new product launches and promotions.Maintain min/max and reorder-point parameters in the ERP system to support automated planning.
8. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Continuous ImprovementServe as the key liaison between domestic suppliers, the production floor, and internal Engineering, Quality, and Sales teams.Communicate schedule status, risks, and supply constraints clearly to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.Identify and lead process Requirements:

Qualifications

· Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

· 3-5+ years of experience in domestic purchasing, production scheduling, or materials planning in a manufacturing environment.

· Strong understanding of production scheduling, capacity planning, and MRP/ERP systems.

· Experience negotiating cost, lead time, and terms with domestic suppliers.

· Strong analytical skills with the ability to balance competing priorities across demand, capacity, and material constraints.

· Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems for purchase order management, scheduling, and inventory planning; strong Excel skills.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally with Production, Quality, Sales, and Finance.

Preferred:

· APICS/ASCM CPIM or CSCP certification.

· Experience in a durable goods, industrial, or commercial products manufacturing environment.

· Familiarity with lean manufacturing, kanban, or pull-based scheduling systems.

· Experience with ERP systems such as NetSuite, SAP, or equivalent platforms.

· Prior experience directly scheduling a production floor or job shop environment.

Key Competencies:

· Production scheduling and capacity planning

· Domestic sourcing and supplier relationship management

· Negotiation and cost management

· Materials and inventory planning

· Cross-functional collaboration and communication

· Analytical and ERP/planning system proficiency

· Problem-solving and prioritization under competing constraints

· Attention to detail and organizational discipline

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary + performance-based bonus/commission structure
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off, holidays, and sick leave
• Structured onboarding and in-house sales training program
• A mission-driven company committed to sustainability and environmentally responsible products

IMPORTANT DETAILS:

• Please note this role is based onsite at our Waukesha, WI location
• This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.