What are the responsibilities and job description for the Purchasing Manager position at INTERNATIONAL GOURMET FOODS INC?
ABOUT IGF
International Gourmet Foods, Inc. (IGF) services restaurants, gourmet markets, clubs, caterers, bakeries, country clubs, breweries, wineries, and hotels throughout the eastern United States. We are driven by strong corporate and community values and most importantly, by the employees who uphold them.
DESCRIPTION
The Purchasing Manager is responsible for leading IGF’s replenishment function to ensure optimal inventory levels, price accuracy, and uninterrupted supply across IGF’s locations. This role oversees a team of seven Replenishment Specialists (“Buyers”) and works cross-functionally with Logistics, Operations, Finance, and Culinary Sales to foster best purchasing practices and drive companywide growth initiatives.
This highly operational, data-driven leadership role requires both hands-on inventory management expertise and a management style that prioritizes discipline, process, teamwork, and performance.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
The Purchasing Manager does the following:
- Directly manages seven Replenishment Specialists, or “buyers”
- Ensures standard purchasing practices across the team
- Coaches the team on forecasting, vendor communication, and issue resolution, emphasizing collaboration, professionalism, and clear, proactive, and prompt communication
- Ensures PAR levels are accurate and maintained across all locations
- Monitors inventory turns, aging inventory, and stock health, accounts for demand variances due to seasonal and other sales spikes
- Prevents stockouts while minimizing surplus and slow-moving inventory
- Reviews and validates purchase orders prior to submission
- Manages pre-orders and vendor production schedule alignment
- Maintains pricing and data accuracy
- Drives accountability and continuous improvement
- Contributes to departmental efforts to assess and manage vendors’ performance against key indicators
- Works closely with other internal teams to understand IGF’s competitive landscape to foresee challenges, forecast demand, and design and implement practices to sustain long-term growth
- Contributes to the team by performing other duties as necessary
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's Degree with preference for a major in Operations, Logistics, Supply Chain, or other business-related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
- Minimum five years of experience in purchasing, inventory planning, or supply chain management
- Minimum two years of experience successfully managing a team
- High SKU purchasing experience (preferred)
- Distribution or food service experience (preferred)
- Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite, especially Dynamics, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams, and Word
- Excellent attention to detail
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong analytical and reasoning skills
CLASSIFIED TITLE: Replenishment Coordinator
JOB POSTING TITLE (WORKING TITLE): Purchasing Manager
EMPLOYEE GROUP: Full-Time
WORK MODALITY: On-Site