Buyer Planner

Proterra offers a dynamic and supportive workplace where our employees can thrive personally and professionally. With cutting-edge facilities and groundbreaking projects, Proterra offers unique opportunities to grow, collaborate, and lead transformative change in the electrification of heavy-duty transportation and equipment.

 Our commitment to innovation extends beyond our battery solutions to our people, where we create an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to drive change for the earth. Here at Proterra we strive to foster a culture of inclusivity, valuing diverse perspectives and encouraging bold ideas, allowing our employees to bring their full selves to work. Our employees benefit from competitive total rewards packages, and opportunities to develop professionally.

Position Overview:

The Lead Buyer Planner serves as a key operational partner to the Production Control Director and site leadership, driving supplier performance and procurement execution across Proterra's manufacturing environment. This role owns the full purchasing and planning cycle. From PO creation and supplier on-time delivery to AP alignment and capacity coordination, while acting as the primary cross-functional liaison between Suppliers, Manufacturing Operations, Engineering, Aftermarket, Finance, and Quality.

About the Role – You will:

• Utilize Oracle and Cloud Planning to provide forecasts for suppliers, create requisitions, Purchase Orders, and plan for material availability for production


• Review and provide feedback to Engineering and Change Management on Change Requests and Change Actions


• Coordinate with Change Management to monitor part changeovers to ensure proper cut in timing and on-time delivery of material to the line


• Support the organizations KPI’s: Supplier On-time delivery, Clear-to-Build, Supplier compliance with iSupplier and FreightPop use


• Focus on supplier performance improvements to support delivery and capacity ramp up at our facility


• Monitor and resolve Invoice Holds to ensure timely payment to suppliers


• Drive systematic root cause resolution, leveraging continuous improvement principles, to diagnose and resolve business problems, ensuring solutions are standardized and sustained

About You: 

• Team player and self-starter with the ability to adapt interpersonal styles and techniques to influence at all levels of the organization and external suppliers


• Customer-focused attitude, with a high level of professionalism and discretion


• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality, establish trust and credibility, and act with complete integrity


• Detail-oriented, resourceful, and diligent


• Strong time management and organizational skills; ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple priorities simultaneously


• Sound judgment and problem-solving skills


• Excellent communication skills

Your Experience Includes: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or equivalent field


• Minimum 1-3 years’ experience in manufacturing or high-tech industry


• Proficient in Microsoft Applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)


• Strong knowledge or understanding of ERP system (i.e., Oracle)


• Experience in supplier management


• Experience managing multiple objectives and plans and communication to suppliers and internal stakeholders

You might also have:

• MBA or advance degree


• Power BI experience is a plus

Designed and assembled in the United States, Proterra’s innovative battery platform offers industry-leading energy density, durability, performance and safety systems – enabling Proterra EV batteries to be the premium choice for commercial vehicles and industrial equipment.

Proterra’s battery technology offers industry-leading energy density, safety systems, and durability. Proudly designed in Silicon Valley and assembled in Greer, South Carolina, Proterra® batteries are the premier choice to electrify commercial vehicles ranging from buses and trucks to construction equipment and more. Proterra is building innovative battery technology to power a better, more sustainable world.

Location: Greer, SC

Travel: 0 - 10%

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. There is no immigration sponsorship available for this role (ex: H1-B, OPT, CPT, TN or any other employment sponsorship).

Proterra is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, providing equal employment opportunities to all Employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including, but not limited to, lactation or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law or ordinance. Proterra participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program (E-Verify).

#LI-BJ1