Senior Buyer / Planner

Job Title: Senior Buyer Planner
Location: Costa Rica (supporting U.S. Distribution Center operations)

Position Summary:
We are seeking a highly analytical and results-driven Senior Buyer Planner to manage end-to-end supply planning and procurement activities supporting a U.S.-based Distribution Center (DC). This role serves as a critical link between the Costa Rica manufacturing facility and downstream customer fulfillment, ensuring alignment between demand, supply, and operational capacity.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan and manage the supply of goods required by the U.S. Distribution Center to meet customer demand and service level targets.
• Act as the primary liaison between the Costa Rica manufacturing facility and the DC, ensuring clear communication and alignment of priorities.
• Analyze demand trends and variability; collaborate with local manufacturing teams to ensure effective capacity planning.
• Proactively identify demand changes and provide timely feedback to manufacturing, enabling agile response and priority adjustments.
• Review demand signals and recommend appropriate safety stock levels to balance On-Time Delivery (OTD) performance with optimal inventory investment.
• Partner with Sales and Business Development to support New Product Introductions (NPI), ensuring launches occur according to committed timelines.
• Develop and execute recovery plans when supply disruptions or demand-supply imbalances occur.
• Maintain and manage purchase orders in alignment with manufacturing plans and shipping commitments.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in supply chain planning, procurement, or buyer/planner roles, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience working in multinational companies operating under Free Trade Zone (FTZ) or similar regimes.
• Proven experience in highly regulated industries such as medical devices, electronics, or automotive.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in demand planning, inventory management, and capacity planning.
• Proven ability to manage cross-functional communication across operations, manufacturing, and commercial teams.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, or equivalent).
• Advanced Excel skills: experience with data analysis tools is a plus.
• English B2/C1
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to operate in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience supporting U.S.-based distribution operations.
• Knowledge of NPI processes and lifecycle planning.
• APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP) is a plus.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic thinking with strong execution discipline
• Effective communication and stakeholder management
• Data-driven decision making
• Sense of urgency and ownership