GE HealthCare
Materials Planner/Buyer
3350 N Ridge Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Full-time · $95k–$143k (as posted)
First seen by offpeak October 9, 2026
See your drive time Apply on GE HealthCare's site
Job Description Summary
The Materials Planner/Buyer is responsible for planning, procuring, and managing raw materials, packaging components, consumables, and indirect materials required to support manufacturing operations. This position ensures uninterrupted material availability, inventory optimization, supplier performance, and alignment with production schedules while achieving cost, quality, and compliance objectives.The role serves as a critical link between Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Sourcing, Logistics, and Finance to maintain continuity of supply and support business objectives.
Job Description
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute material requirements plans (MRP) based on forecasted demand and production schedules.
- Create, manage, and expedite purchase orders to ensure timely material availability using reorder points, planning parameters, and inventory strategies.
- Monitor supplier performance, delivery schedules, lead times, and capacity constraints.
- Resolve material shortages, backorders, and supply disruptions through proactive supplier engagement.
- Support new product introductions, product transfers, and validation activities.
- Maintain optimal inventory levels while balancing service levels, working capital, shelf life, safety stock and storage constraints.
- Analyze inventory trends and implement actions to reduce excess and obsolete materials.
- Support cycle counts, physical inventories, and reconciliation activities.
- Investigate inventory discrepancies and implement corrective actions.
- Collaborate with Sourcing, Supplier Quality, and Engineering to mitigate supply risks.
- Support supplier qualification, dual-sourcing initiatives, and contingency planning.
- Escalate supply chain risks and develop action plans to protect production schedules.
- Maintain accurate material master data including lead times, safety stock levels, source lists, planning parameters, and purchasing information records.
- Generate reports and analyze planning data to drive informed decision-making.
- Participate in cross-functional meetings to communicate material status, risks, and mitigation plans.
- Drive Lean Manufacturing and process improvement initiatives through standard work and daily management system.
- Ensure compliance with Quality Systems, GMP, CFR, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Participate and author investigations, deviations, CAPAs, change controls, and risk assessments as required.
- Maintain accurate and complete documentation supporting material and purchasing activities end to end.
- Support internal and external audits.
Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, or Engineering.
Experience:
- Minimum 2 years of experience in GMP materials planning, purchasing, procurement, inventory management.
- Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or equivalent.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Power BI and data analysis tools.
- Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional JIT manufacturing environment.
Desired Characteristics
- 3-5 years of experience in materials planning and procurement.
- Experience in pharmaceutical, medical device, healthcare regulated manufacturing environments.
- APICS CPIM, CMRP, CPSM, CSCP, or related certification.
- Knowledge of GMP, CFR, FDA, ISO requirements.
- Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma experience.
We expect all employees to live and breathe our behaviors: to act with humility and build trust; lead with transparency; deliver with focus, and drive ownership –always with unyielding integrity.
Our total rewards are designed to unlock your ambition by giving you the boost and flexibility you need to turn your ideas into world-changing realities. Our salary and benefits are everything you’d expect from an organization with global strength and scale, and you’ll be surrounded by career opportunities in a culture that fosters care, collaboration and support.
#LI-MA4
We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening.For U.S. based positions only, the pay range for this position is $95,040.00-$142,560.00 Annual. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the pay range and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including skills, qualifications, experience and location. In addition, this position may also be eligible to earn performance based incentive compensation, which may include cash bonus(es) and/or long term incentives (LTI). GE HealthCare offers a competitive benefits package, including not but limited to medical, dental, vision, paid time off, a 401(k) plan with employee and company contribution opportunities, life, disability, and accident insurance, and tuition reimbursement.
Additional Information
GE HealthCare offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. GE HealthCare is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.
GE HealthCare will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable).
While GE HealthCare does not currently require U.S. employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, some GE HealthCare customers have vaccination mandates that may apply to certain GE HealthCare employees.
Relocation Assistance Provided: No