What are the responsibilities and job description for the Procurement Specialist position at JAI Development?
We iare seeking a self-driven Food and Beverage Ingredient Sourcing Specialist to support our Brooklyn-based innovation and formulation team. This hands-on, lab-focused role owns ingredient sourcing, supplier management, and inventory flow to ensure projects are supplied on time and with best-in-class materials.
Key Responsibilities
- Research, evaluate, select, and manage ingredient suppliers, serving as JAI’s primary connection to the supplier ecosystem.
- Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to secure access to innovative ingredients and advantaged terms for our clients.
- Develop and maintain master ingredient data (pricing, MOQs, lead times, availability, specs, nutrition, and costing) in internal systems.
- Implement and maintain supplier scorecards to track quality, responsiveness, lead times, and overall performance.
- Monitor market and commodity trends, assess supply chain risks, and recommend mitigation strategies and sourcing improvements.
- Conduct basic cost modeling, spend analysis, and benchmarking to support value-conscious ingredient selection.
- Manage ordering, receiving, and inventory of ingredients, packaging, and lab supplies; ensure accurate tracking and timely replenishment.
- Coordinate shipping and logistics for formulation samples and project-related materials.
- Act as a key point of contact for clients on sourcing-related topics, facilitating supplier and vendor introductions as appropriate.
- Prepare and organize final sourcing-related project documentation for internal and client use.
- Support the formulation team with operational and administrative tasks and contribute to routine lab cleaning and maintenance.
Qualifications
- 3 years of sourcing or procurement experience within the Food & Beverage Industry
- Knowledge of SQF, HACCP, FDA nutrition labeling (TTB a plus)
- Proven experience developing and executing sourcing strategies with a strong understanding of supplier markets and industry trends
- Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- High attention to detail with excellent organizational and time-management skills