Buyer/ Planner

Who we are:

TR Fastenings (TR) is part of Trifast plc is a leading international specialist in the design, engineering, manufacture, and distribution of high-quality industrial fastenings and Category 'C' components principally to major global assembly industries. It supplies to some 5,000 customers in 75 countries worldwide, serving a range of industries including Automotive, Smart Infrastructure, Medical, General Industrial and Distributors.

The Role:

The Buyer/Planner supports procurement and material planning activities to ensure materials are available and delivered on time to meet operational needs. Reporting to the Purchasing Manager, this role issues purchase orders, communicates with suppliers, and assists in negotiating pricing and lead times. The Buyer/Planner works closely with sales, procurement, and logistics teams to help maintain optimal inventory levels throughout the Supply Chain. This position also monitors material availability, helps resolve delivery issues, and proactively expedites orders when needed to prevent operational interruptions. With strong attention to detail and initiatives, the Buyer/Planner ensures accurate procurement documentation and contributes to continuous improvement efforts within the purchasing and planning processes.

Key Task:

Procurement (Buyer) Responsibilities

• Issue and manage purchase orders to ensure timely delivery and cost-effective delivery of materials
• Negotiate pricing and lead times with suppliers to support cost savings and performance improvement
• Maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure the timely delivery of materials and resolve any supply chain issues.
• Work with supplier transport, internal teams, and logistics providers to move product in the most cost-effective manner
• Maintain accurate procurement records and documentation

Planning & Inventory Management Responsibilities

• Collaborate with sales, procurement, and logistics teams to ensure optimal inventory levels that meet customer demand and production schedules
• Monitor inventory and demand signals, proactively addressing material shortages, delays, or excess stock situations
• Review material shortages and adjust planning parameters (ex: lead times, safety stock) to ensure product availability and uninterrupted flow of product.
• Communicate planning changes across internal teams to align purchasing, productions, and fulfilment activities

The Candidate:

You will have a strong understanding of IT support and service desk practices, including incident management, user support, and IT asset provisioning. Experience supporting enterprise applications such as Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (D365 F&O), Office 365, and collaboration tools is essential, along with proficiency in ITSM platforms like TOPdesk, ServiceNow, or JIRA. Familiarity with Windows and macOS environments and experience supporting users across multiple time zones is highly desirable.

The successful candidate must demonstrate excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to troubleshoot issues, escalate complex problems, and resolve incidents efficiently. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are critical for collaborating with internal IT teams, vendors, and a global user base. You will also need solid organizational and time management abilities to handle multiple support requests and meet service level agreements (SLAs).

A proactive attitude, ownership, and accountability are essential, along with the ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional global team. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment, adapt easily to changing priorities, and maintain accuracy and attention to detail while delivering continuous service improvement.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Proven experience as a Buyer/Planner in distribution, or similar role in supply chain, logistics, or manufacturing environments, balancing both procurement strategy and inventory planning
• Strong understanding of end-to-end procurement workflows and demand/supply planning principles to ensure material availability and optimal stock levels.
• Skilled in managing ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems and material management software, preferably Microsoft D365 to support forecasting, purchasing, and inventory accuracy
• Proficiency in analyzing demand trends, supplier performance, and inventory data and make informed purchasing decisions and support continuous planning improvements.
• Strong negotiation skills to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes with suppliers
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with internal teams & suppliers.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to managing supply chain disruptions.
• Organizational ability to handle multiple tasks, prioritize, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Detail-oriented with a high degree of accuracy.
• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, Logistics, or related field preferred
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft (Word, Excel)
• Working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems (D365 preferred)
• Relevant professional qualifications or experience – 2 years minimum in a buyer/planner or similar role.