Rural Power Systems Supply Chain Planner & Purchasing Davis, CA · Full time

Apply for Supply Chain Planner & Purchasing

At RPS, we’re solar-powered and people-powered! Every pump that leaves our warehouse means one less generator or power line—and cleaner, safer access to water. It supports healthier animals, plants, and people while boosting the resilience, independence, and self-sufficiency of rural families and communities. We’re mission-driven, impact-focused, and yes—we’re as cool as it sounds. We help folks across the country pump water sustainably, from off-grid ranches to remote homesteads. We're a team of tinkerers, builders, customer champions, and adventurers who take pride in solving real-world problems with clean technology. No corporate fluff, just honest work that matters.

About Us

At RPS, we’re solar-powered and people-powered! Every pump that leaves our warehouse means one less generator or power line—and cleaner, safer access to water. It supports healthier animals, plants, and people while boosting the resilience, independence, and self-sufficiency of rural families and communities.

We’re mission-driven, impact-focused, and yes—we’re as cool as it sounds. We help folks across the country pump water sustainably, from off-grid ranches to remote homesteads. We're a team of tinkerers, builders, customer champions, and adventurers who take pride in solving real-world problems with clean technology. No corporate fluff, just honest work that matters.

The Job

We’re a growing company helping more people access clean, reliable water—without relying on fossil fuels or costly infrastructure. Every pump that leaves our warehouse supports rural independence, self-sufficiency, and real-world impact in communities across the country.

If you love solving real-world problems, thinking analytically, and being part of a team that builds something meaningful, you’ll feel right at home here.

This is a high-impact, hands-on Supply Chain Planner & Purchasing role responsible for owning our end-to-end supply chain process—from demand and supply planning through purchase order management, vendor coordination, and final receipt at our warehouse. You will work cross-functionally in a small company environment where your decisions directly shape product availability, inventory health, and customer satisfaction.

You will actively manage forecasting, maintain the supply plan, create and track purchase orders, monitor vendor performance, and proactively flag inventory risks before they impact production, open orders, or customer commitments. 

Essential job duties: 

Demand & Supply Planning

• Own the demand planning process: analyze historical sales data, seasonal trends, promotions, and market signals to generate accurate SKU level forecasts
• Build and maintain rolling supply plans that align purchasing decisions with forecasted demand, target inventory levels, and lead times
• Track purchasing spend, cost changes, freight impact, and vendor pricing issues so leadership can make informed inventory and cash decisions.
• Identify demand / supply imbalances early and develop mitigation strategies (expediting, deferrals, substitutions)
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Operations to incorporate pipeline visibility and promotional lift into the demand plan
• Track forecast accuracy and bias and continuously refine planning assumptions and methodology
• Maintain optimal stock levels by SKU based on variability, lead time, and service level targets
• Identify when system outputs, spreadsheet logic, or planning recommendations do not match operational reality and escalate issues for correction

Purchasing & Vendor Management

• Navigate technical products, components, and parts purchasing, ensuring accuracy on specs, quantities, compatibility, and quality expectations
• Generate and issue purchase orders based on approved supply plans and reorder triggers and own each PO through vendor confirmation, shipment tracking, delivery, and receipt
• Ensure recurring product, packaging, fulfillment, and customer service feedback is captured and incorporated into future supplier orders and specifications where appropriate
• Manage vendor relationships day-to-day: confirm order acknowledgments, track lead times, and escalate delays proactively. Manage vendor follow up, order acknowledgments, lead time changes, late orders, delivery schedules, pricing discrepancies, quantity issues, and document accuracy.
• Negotiate delivery schedules and resolve discrepancies in pricing, quantities, or shipping documents
• Maintain accurate vendor master data including MOQs, lead times, pricing, and contact information and escalate PO and vendor risks early with clear options, timing, and business impact
• Work with international suppliers across time zones. Every now and then that means a late night call or message from California to keep orders moving or shipments on track. Not an everyday thing, but when it matters, it matters
• Support import documentation, tariff classification, and customs related follow up in partnership with leadership, vendors, and freight partners

Inbound Logistics & Warehouse Coordination

• Track inbound shipments from origin to warehouse arrival, coordinating with freight forwarders and carriers as needed
• Prepare advance shipping notices and receiving documentation for the warehouse team
• Support timely and accurate goods receipt in the inventory system upon warehouse arrival
• Investigate and resolve inbound discrepancies (shortages, damages, mislabeled items)

Inventory Management & Reporting

• Support cycle counts and physical inventory reconciliation
• Maintain clean and accurate data across planning tools and system

What You Bring

You're excited about work that directly impacts people’s lives and our planet. Whether you're tech-savvy, customer-obsessed, mechanically inclined—or all three—you bring curiosity, team collaboration, and a strong sense of purpose to the table.

Required

• 3-5 years of experience in supply chain, demand forecasting, supply planning, purchasing, or inventory management
• Demonstrated experience with demand forecasting, supply planning, and statistics.
• Strong proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, scenario modeling); comfort with large data sets.
• Familiarity with freight and logistics terms
• Experience using an inventory management system
• Solid analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail
•  Excellent written and verbal communication. Able to work across teams and with external vendors
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast paced, small company environment
• Believe in rural resilience and clean technology
• Want to be part of a team where mission isn’t a buzzword—it’s the reason

Preferred

• Experience with statistical forecasting tools, demand planning software, or ERP/MRP systems (MRPeasy a plus)
• Exposure to import documentation, tariff classification, or international supplier coordination
• Python or advanced data analysis experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, or related field

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Comprehensive Benefits: 401K match, health care, paid holidays, PTO, sick leave, and pet insurance.
• Unique Perks: Off-grid and volunteer PTO days, triple-your-impact donation matching, and AAA Roadside Assistance membership.
• Vibrant Culture: Unlimited coffee, regular parties, delicious food, karaoke nights, and a fun-loving team spirit.
• Work-Life Balance: We operate Monday through Friday, keeping weekends sacred for rest and family time.
• Farm Fresh Goodness: Enjoy our company garden, and meet our resident chickens and ducks—fresh veggies and eggs are on us!

Compensation & Benefits

We believe in rewarding work that matters. Compensation for this role starts at $75,000 per year depending on experience.

We know great candidates sometimes don’t tick every box—if you’re excited about the role and our mission, we’d still love to hear from you.