Sr Buyer​/Planner

The Senior Buyer/Planner is responsible for the acquisition and administration, with a balance of cost, quality and supplier service, of all materials and services necessary for production. This position implements activities for purchasing materials, products, and services and examines existing procedures or opportunities for streamlining activities to meet product distribution needs. This role includes new supplier onboarding, supplier performance management and a data driven planning analysis to support future procurement plans and material availability.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare, process, and manage requisitions and purchase orders for materials, supplies, and equipment in alignment with demand and production requirements.
• Represent the company in negotiating contracts, pricing, and terms with suppliers; formulate and implement purchasing and contract management policies and procedures.
• Locate, evaluate, select, onboard, and manage suppliers, including obtaining quotations, supporting First Article Inspection (FAI) requirements, assessing capabilities and capacity, and determining product availability and terms of sale.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve supplier evaluation and management systems, fostering strategic supplier partnerships and capability growth.
• Lead cost reduction initiatives through price negotiations, cost modeling, total cost of ownership analysis, and management of purchase price variance (PPV) performance.
• Establish and monitor performance metrics to evaluate supply chain factors such as cost, quality, delivery, and supplier performance.
• Maintain ERP system integrity, including accurate supplier data, pricing, lead times, safety stock levels, and planning parameters.
• Develop and manage safety stock strategies, lead times, and planning parameters to balance service levels and inventory investment.
• Utilize historical usage and demand data to generate forecasts and execute data-driven procurement planning and strategic purchase order placement.
• Identify and mitigate supply risks through dual sourcing strategies, supplier capacity assessments, and continuity planning.
• Lead supplier escalation, recovery efforts, and corrective actions during shortages, quality issues, or delivery disruptions.
• Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Operations, Warehouse, Accounting, and Finance to support new product introduction (NPI), engineering change order (ECO) implementation, inventory accuracy, and budget objectives.

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or GED required;
  Bachelor’s degree preferred (or equivalent work experience).
• 5+ years’ relevant experience in a Buyer/Planner or similar role.
• Demonstrated experience managing supplier relationships (preferably global), including performance oversight, cross‑functional onboarding of new suppliers, and supplier transitions or exits.
• Professional Certification: APICS Certifications (CPIM, CSCP) greatly desired.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• ERP software knowledge, advanced spreadsheet knowledge and presentation software experience.
• Ability to independently research, analyze, and determine solutions by sourcing information and making informed decisions.
• Proven success in increasing revenue, driving customer satisfaction, and/or improving efficiency in a warehouse/ inventory management setting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• This position is based in Kent, WA. A hybrid schedule of occasional onsite work and work from home arrangements within Washington state is welcome.
• This position requires business travel as needed for supplier visits.

Pay and Benefits

The typical starting salary range for this position is between $103,980 - $129,975 per year. Coinstar utilizes geographically based pay ranges, within the United States, which allows us to pay competitively and consistently based on location. Within the range for the applicable geographic area, individual pay is determined by several factors, including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share the salary range specific to your location.

Employees in this position have the potential to increase their base salary…