Buyer

SUMMARY

The Buyer is responsible for purchasing raw materials, semi-finished goods, indirect materials, services, and all maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) items required for manufacturing and plant operations. This role ensures the best combination of cost, quality, delivery, and service while maintaining compliance with company policies and supporting production, new product launches, cost-savings initiatives, and equipment reliability.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Obtain materials, parts, and services from suppliers at the lowest total cost consistent with required quality, delivery, and urgency; expedite as needed.
• Source, evaluate, select, and negotiate with vendors for the best combination of quality, price, availability, reliability, payment terms, and delivery performance.
• Prepare RFQ packages, obtain and compare quotations, and negotiate pricing contracts and agreements.
• Create, issue, and manage the full purchase order lifecycle in the ERP system from PO creation through receipt and invoice reconciliation.
• Maintain accurate and complete purchasing records, vendor pricing, specifications, and databases in the ERP and procurement systems.
• Monitor and resolve pricing discrepancies, claims for defectives, shortages, overages, or missing products with vendors and internal stakeholders.
• Study market conditions, commodity trends, and supplier performance to optimize purchasing decisions and anticipate supply risks.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal customers (Production, Maintenance, R&D, Quality, Inventory) and external vendors regarding specifications, scheduling, invoices, packing slips, and delivery issues.
• Collaborate with R&D, Quality, and Marketing to identify and qualify new/alternate suppliers and support new product development, limited-time offers, and customer bids/quotes.
• Assist Inventory Control with monthly cycle counts and year-end physical inventory.
• Support cost-savings initiatives and continuous improvement efforts within Procurement and across the organization.
• Ensure all purchasing activities comply with company policies, procedures, and applicable government regulations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Associate Degree in Business, Accounting, or related field; three (3) or more years of purchasing experience, preferably in a food manufacturing environment; or equivalent combination of education and experience.  
• Solid negotiation skills
• Understanding of procurement sourcing processes, supplier negotiations and contract execution
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to be flexible and willing to learn new skills quickly as the need arises
• Effective in working collaboratively with cross-functional teams
• Good analytical skills, able to perform data analyses in Excel
• Team player with integrity, interpersonal, organizational and time management skills. 
• Ability to multi-task and work independently
• Make decisions while following company procedures. 
• Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly, detailed oriented. 
• Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle controls; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms, stand; walk; and occasionally stoop. 
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. 
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.