Buyer/Planner

Sound Seal Inc • Ogden, UT

2d

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• 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
• 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

Nice To Haves

• Experience in wood manufacturing or related industrial environments strongly preferred
• Comfortable using ERP systems, Excel, and other tools to support purchasing decisions

Responsibilities

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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 This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed