About the position
Join Spectrum Brands (NYSE: SPB), a multi-billion dollar global Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) powerhouse with a portfolio of powerful, globally recognized brands. We are currently seeking a highly analytical Senior Buyer Planner to serve as the critical interface between commercial demand and operational execution for our high-volume Home & Garden liquid production plant. This role directly impacts working capital, service levels, and plant efficiency, positioning you as a key partner.
Responsibilities
• Component Procurement & Financial Stewardship
• Conduct robust analysis of economic order quantities to determine optimal procurement strategies that minimize inventory capital tied up while maintaining supply continuity.
• Engage in strategic collaboration with key raw material and packaging suppliers to align procurement plans with both our requirements and their capacity constraints. This includes focused planning for long lead-time components.
• Identify and escalate gaps in the materials supply chain. Act as the central liaison to resolve issues with Sourcing, Quality, Marketing, and Package Engineering.
• Create and manage all required Purchase Orders (POs) to flawlessly support the Master Production Schedule and cost improvement objectives.
• Advanced Planning Systems & Data Integrity
• Analyze results from systematically optimized plan (via APO PPDS); review and adjust master data as required to ensure continued functionality
• Regularly audit and maintain the required master data to ensure optimal functionality, integrity, and accuracy within our Advanced Planning Tools.
• Production Scheduling & Operational Alignment
• Develop and publish the Master Production Schedule (MPS) for all liquid lines. Make strategic sequencing and prioritization decisions to balance business requirements for fill rate, inventory investment, and plant OEE.
• Proactively monitor and adjust the MPS daily or weekly in response to shifts in commercial demand, ensuring smooth operational transitions.
• Publish production metrics and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) used internally to measure success against plan.
• New Product Development
• Drive the operational execution phase of the New Product Development (NPD) process.
• Design and execute detailed component run-out plans to manage item transitions, strictly optimizing obsolescence expense in alignment with marketing launch timelines.
Requirements
• Bachelor's Degree in Inventory Management, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Management or related field required
• 2 or more years of Buyer/Planner experience required
• ERP (e.g. SAP, Oracle, etc.) experience required
• Intermediate MS Excel experience (e.g., pivot tables, VLOOKUPS, formulas, etc.) required
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Ability to work in a team environment, sometimes as the facilitator of the team.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize work and follow through to completion.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret various information.
• Strong mathematical ability.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with all levels within the organization
• PC skills (spreadsheet, word processing, presentations)
Nice-to-haves
• Working with an internal plant/manufacturing site strongly preferred
• APICS Certification a plus
• Willing to train new hire on production scheduling