How to hire a plant buyer

How to hire a plant buyer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step plant buyer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a plant buyer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new plant buyer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a plant buyer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A plant buyer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, plant buyers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents plant buyer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Plant Buyer	Description	Hourly rate
   Plant Buyer	Buyers and purchasing agents buy products and services for organizations to use or resell. They evaluate suppliers, negotiate contracts, and review the quality of products.	$21-38
   Landman	Landmen are referred to as the public-facing side of a gas, mineral, and oil exploration and production team. They are professionals who interact and negotiate directly with landowners for the acquisition of gas and oil drilling leases... Show more	$25-61
   Subcontract Administrator	As a subcontract administrator, you will be responsible for identifying the needs of a company and implement measures and initiatives to fulfill those needs. This role will require you to perform a few tasks, including responding to purchase requisitions, soliciting bids and proposals from new and existing sources, and evaluating terms and awarding the subcontract... Show more	$20-49

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Purchase Orders
   • Lean Manufacturing
   • MRO
   • Delivery Dates
   • Commodities
   • Indirect Materials
   • ERP
   • Inventory Management
   • On-Time Delivery
   • MRP
   • ISO
   • Quality Issues
   • Supplier Selection
   • Cost Savings

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage plant ISO system for all procurement functions.
   • Manage MRP on all stock material to create plane orders.
   • Assure suppliers comply with safety and quality alignments within company standards and manage non-conformance reporting for logistics as per company policy.
   • Purchase production material and MRO supplies.
   • Maintain tool crib and all MRO materials.
   • Work with appropriate personnel to ensure effective and functional storage for all supplies and commodities.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your plant buyer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A plant buyer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, plant buyers' average salary in hawaii is 34% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level plant buyers 45% less than senior-level plant buyers.
   • Certifications. A plant buyer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a plant buyer's salary.

   Average plant buyer salary

   $59,450yearly

   $28.58 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level plant buyer salary

   $44,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 1, 2026

4. Writing a plant buyer job description

   A good plant buyer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a plant buyer job description:

   Plant buyer job description example

   Job Details
   
   What you will do
   
   Under direction of the Materials Manager and Senior buyers, procures assigned materials, components, supplies, equipment, and services that meet the operation's requirements for quality, delivery, price, terms, lead times, and inventory levels.
   
   How you will do it
   
   * Supports senior buyers and purchasing manager on procurement issues, i.e. invoice and receipt discrepancies, expediting orders.
   * Procures materials to meet the goals of JCI regarding inventory turns, cost, quality, and customer requirements.
   * Assists in the supplier qualification process, per the JCI ISO Supplier Selection Procedure, and supports cross-functional teams in auditing/qualifying new sources of supply including vendor set-up.
   * Places purchase orders and communicates blanket order/ master scheduling/ forecasting requirements to suppliers.
   * Determines most economical lot size and supplier lead times for purchasing components.
   * Conducts quoting activities to ensure best total cost for assigned commodities.
   * Supports commodity cost reduction, lead time reduction and supplier consolidation projects.
   * Supports inventory management programs with supply base that includes vendor stocking, consignment, vendor-managed inventory, etc.
   * Supports company goals for minority owned and small disadvantaged business suppliers.
   * Partners with the Planning team by identifying at risk materials in order to prevent shortages on the shop floor.
   * Maintains data integrity of ERP system including Item Master attributes and purchasing activities.
   * Provides assistance to the materials group in expediting and de-expediting purchase order releases.
   * Sets standard cost on assigned commodities.
   * Writes contracts and supports contract administration for standard products.
   * Assists quality department in resolving supplier quality issues. Provides assistance to quality group in expediting and de-expediting as needed.
   * Performs special projects and related duties as assigned.
   
   What we look for
   
   * Bachelor's degree in business or equivalent experience.
   * Two to five years experience in purchasing or production and inventory control.
   * Good communication skills both written and verbal.
   * Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
   * Negotiation skills required.
   * Proficient computer skills with experience in Microsoft Office Suite.
   * Experience in a team environment desirable.
   * APICS certification desirable
   
   Johnson Controls International plc. is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a qualified individual with a disability or any other characteristic protected by law. To view more information about your equal opportunity and non-discrimination rights as a candidate, visit EEO is the Law. If you are an individual with a disability and you require an accommodation during the application process, please visit here.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right plant buyer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your plant buyer job on Zippia to find and recruit plant buyer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit plant buyers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new plant buyer

   Once you've selected the best plant buyer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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