Job Overview
The Planner Buyer is responsible for coordinating material availability, production scheduling, purchasing activity, customer order release, subcontract support, and inventory management to support customer delivery and factory execution.
This role works closely with Production Planning, Operations, Quality, suppliers, Customer Service, other Hubbell plants, and local subcontract partners to ensure materials are available when needed and orders are released based on accurate lead times and material readiness.
This is a local site role because it requires direct coordination with the factory, local suppliers, subcontract partners, other plants, and physical material flow. The position supports hands-on rework activity, subcontract builds, component sourcing from within the factory, returned material processing, and local follow-up needed to keep production and customer orders moving.
A Day In The Life
Planning, Purchasing & Material Availability
- Coordinate production scheduling with Production Planning to meet customer and stocking requirements.
- Purchase assigned raw material, work-in-process material, subcontract material, and finished goods.
- Release customer orders from the planning queue based on material availability and lead times.
- Release purchase requisitions and purchase orders to buyers and suppliers.
- Manage inventory levels for assigned products and take action when inventory does not support demand.
Customer Delivery & Order Management
- Drive customer on-time delivery and demonstrated lead time performance while maintaining appropriate inventory levels.
- Maintain current promise dates on customer orders and work with Customer Service when delivery expectations change.
- Expedite parts inside and outside the company to support customer commitments and production needs.
- Support customer returned goods through the returned goods process.
Factory, Supplier & Subcontract Coordination
- Work with Quality, Manufacturing, and suppliers to resolve material or quality concerns.
- Schedule work through the shop floor by coordinating with Production Planning and local manufacturing teams.
- Coordinate with B&K for rework and subcontract processes that require direct local follow-up.
- Work with other plants to support rework needs for materials received from the distribution center and routed to B&K.
- Source components from within the factory to support subcontract builds at B&K.
- Partner directly with the factory to process components needed for subcontract builds.
Expected Outcomes
- Improved material availability to support production and customer delivery.
- More accurate order release decisions based on realistic lead times and material readiness.
- Reduced shortages, late orders, and production interruptions tied to material flow.
- Stronger coordination between Production Planning, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Quality, suppliers, subcontract partners, and Customer Service.
- Better control over inventory levels, subcontract activity, returned goods, and local factory support needs.
What will help you thrive in this role?
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, or a related field preferred.
- 3-5 years experience in purchasing, production planning, materials management, inventory control, or manufacturing support.
- Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
- SAP experience preferred.
- Ability to work closely with local Manufacturing teams, Suppliers, Subcontractors, Customer Service, Quality, and Production Planning.
- Strong follow-up skills and the ability to manage urgent material issues without losing sight of longer-term inventory and delivery goals.
- Ability to understand shop floor constraints, material movement, customer order timing, and subcontract requirements.
- Detail-oriented approach with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to adjust priorities as factory needs change.
- Ability to communicate clearly and professionally across departments, plants, suppliers, and subcontract partners.
Hubbell Incorporated
Hubbell creates critical infrastructure solutions that power our customers, communities, people and the planet. Our company is strategically aligned around enabling grid modernization and electrification. As more products plug in to an aging grid, Hubbell solutions enable the transition to a more reliable, resilient and efficient energy infrastructure. Founded in 1888 our innovation has made us a leading global manufacturer of high quality electrical and utility solutions enabling customers to operate critical infrastructure reliably and efficiently.
The company operates in two segments. Hubbell Utility Solutions (HUS) enable the grid to conduct, communicate and control energy across utility applications and Hubbell Electrical Solutions (HES) are essential to managing power across a wide range of industries and applications. Our vertical market solutions can be applied to markets including Data Centers, Renewables, Commercial Buildings, Industrial, Telecom and Transportation. Supporting both of our business segments is our corporate and Hubbell Unified Business Solutions teams that provide consistent process, tools technologies across our businesses.
We are committed to operating sustainably and ethically while promoting an inclusive and supportive culture for our people to grow and develop in their careers. Our employees proudly work and serve our communities from our headquarters in Shelton, CT, across the United States and around the globe.
Hubbell Utility Solutions
Hubbell Utility Solutions (HUS) enable the grid to conduct, communicate and control energy across utility applications. HUS provides the critical components that allow the grid to reliably transmit and distribute energy, as well as the communications and controls technologies to make the grid smarter and more flexible.
Hubbell Incorporated, its subsidiaries and affiliates, is an EO Employer AA: M/F/Veteran/Disability. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other protected class.
The above summary of position responsibilities and requirements is not intended, and should not be construed, to be an exhaustive list of duties, skills, efforts, physical requirements, or working conditions associated with the position. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of those principal position elements essential for making decisions related to position performance, employee development, and compensation.