Buyer/Planner I

About us: Sparx Hockey was founded in 2013 to solve the greatest unmet need in ice skating sports (e.g., hockey and figure skating) - maintaining sharp skates. Today, Sparx is relied upon for high-quality skate sharpening by families, teams, retailers, rinks, and professional skate sharpeners around the world. In addition to Sparx Hockey’s exceptional products and record-setting growth, we also pride ourselves on being a fun place to work. Although it’s not an employment prerequisite, many of our employees still play, coach, and parent hockey players. We do more than just build great hockey products; we use them ourselves. When we’re not working hard or playing hockey our team can be found having a blast at our annual summer outing and impromptu barbecues that fill in the rest of the Sparx annual event calendar. Our global headquarters are in Acton, MA and are home to our R&D, Operations, Marketing, Sales, and Finance teams as well as our production lines and warehouse/distribution center. About the role: We are looking for an entry level data-driven planner/buyer who understands and will utilize MRP/ERP data to analyze supply/demand status quickly and efficiently, then convert this status into purchasing requirements plan to support higher level demand plan. To be successful as a Sparx Hockey Planner/Buyer, you must have excellent computer and analytical skills and exhibit high attention to detail. Responsibilities: Analyze and respond to all MRP and manually generated material and shop order requisitions. Monitor accuracy of Manufacturing and Purchasing Bills of Materials. Analyze and report availability of material to operations and management team. Maintain schedule and status of deliverables, actions and issues. Work with Operations to ensure delivery of materials needed to meet on-site production needs. Manage supply partner relationships including lead times, supplied material and schedules Write and release requisitions and purchase orders related to assigned components, samples, prototypes and finished goods. Develop a competitive sourcing & procurement environment leading to continuous improvement in quality, cost, service, and technology Support product development by identifying and developing potential suppliers. Qualifications: Advanced Excel and Word skills Understanding process planning of material within an ERP system. Identifying requirements, processing requisitions to purchasing, and setting orders. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Self-starter with ability to get tasks accomplished on time Experience in, or willing to learn, planning of material within an ERP system. Bachelor’s Degree in Business or Industrial Management or additional relevant experience. 0 - 5+ years of experience in inventory management, demand planning, or allocation planning; preferably for a company that designs and develops electro-mechanical consumer products. An awesome attitude. Extra Credit: Direct-To-Consumer business experience (e-commerce) Experience with hockey – either as a player, coach, or parent Benefits: Base Salary: $50,000-$70,000, commensurate with experience Health, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with employer match Generous PTO