Procurement Buyer

We’re Tovala, a food-tech company reinventing home cooking to save consumers time. Through an innovative combination of hardware, software, and fresh food delivery, we make it incredibly simple for anyone to prepare and enjoy delicious, home-cooked meals without sacrificing time to do whatever matters to them. Through our superior technology, product experience and food quality, we have separated Tovala from the busy pack of other meal delivery businesses. In the process, we’ve amassed a loyal, rapidly growing following and our retention, product engagement and customer NPS are all best-in-class. We’ve raised over $100mm from great investors like Left Lane Capital, Origin Ventures, Y Combinator and Comcast Ventures and have invested strongly in building a unique culture that fosters growth, personal development and camaraderie.

At Tovala, we're seeking a Food Procurement Buyer. Food procurement is a fundamental component of Tovala’s business model. Buyers are responsible for ensuring that we receive all raw ingredients and co-manufactured items in a timely manner so that production runs smoothly each week. This individual will work directly within the Purchasing & Procurement team, and cross functionally with Production, Inventory, FSQA, Culinary, and Menu teams to review inventory, purchase strategically, and coordinate on time and in full deliveries

How you'll spend your time at Tova

• Review on-hand inventory and production requirements to manage daily and weekly purchasing needs, for a range of lead times and shelf lives.
• Communicate shortages or delays in product arrival that would affect the production schedule
• Strategize the recovery plan with the Operations team to expedite or fill-in elsewhere with minimal impact to producti
• Provide forecasts to vendors to stay ahead to stay ahead of any potential shortages, identify challenges and provide solutions to mitigate interruptions in product acquisition. Work with the Director of Procurement and Senior Buyer(s) to secure secondary or even tertiary suppliers for high risk, essential ingredients
• Review demand requirements to manage short and long term purchasing needs, working with the Inventory and Menu teams to avoid wastage and identify opportunities for process improvements
• Implement and maintain a vendor performance rating system - monitor and evaluate vendor performance using key attributes (on-time/complete delivery, adherence to specifications, etc
• Real time communication of quality issues to vendors, ensuring timely follow up and solutions
• Develop and maintain excellent partnerships and relationships with internal and external stakeholders, working with the Procurement Director to identify and develop processes for efficiency and value improvements
• Partner with our Finance and Inventory teams to review and approve invoices, and ensure food costs are accurately captured
• Integrate within the Tovala Supply Chain team and provide support and coverage to both food and packaging within the Procurement team. Follow Safety/GMP/Food Safety/Quality policies

About You

• You thrive in a fast-paced environment, and can prioritize business needs while managing multiple supply chains
• You show exceptional attention to detail to consistently seek out and independently vet data, informing decision making
• You have excellent time management skills and strong follow-through skills, with the ability to develop and drive project plans for own priorities and department projects
• You have the ability to think and act critically about processes and supply chain systems with a focus on continuous improvement in value, innovation and cost savings, while staying ahead of market trends
• You have strong problem solving and planning skills, and experience with project management
• You have strong verbal and written communication skills

Requirements

• 5 years in a food procurement role, experience in production environment or large scale catering operation preferred
• Proven experience in the purchasing and buying function, with success in driving value through cost savings, process and quality improvements, and product diversification
• Ability to use MS Office, Google Suites (Drive, Sheets, Docs, etc.) to follow and create efficient and transparent electronic tools for demand planning on materials and packaging
• Must be able and willing to work in refrigerated coolers (~38⁰F) and freezers (~0F)
• Ability to kneel, reach, bend, and lift (up to 50 pounds) throughout the work day and to work on your feet for the entirety of the day, with or without reasonable accommodation

Compensation / Benefits

• Tovala uses market data, geography, and placement of internal employees to determine salary. Additionally, we offer all employees real ownership in the company in the form of a competitive equity package
• Flexible paid time off (with a minimum of 15 days off you HAVE to take) (change if hourly or produc
• Comprehensive healthcare coverage we really invest in 401k with match
• Free Tovala Smart Oven and discounted Tovala meals
• Paid holidays and our winter holiday office shutdown where the offices and facilities close for a week around Christmas and New Years
• Various other perks - recognition programs, continued learning stipend, casual dress code, in-office coffee, snacks and drinks, and Tovala swag

The values we hold dear

Put the team first

We put what is best for the broader team ahead of what is best for ourselves or our immediate department.

Get s#!t done (well)

We celebrate people at all levels for delivering high impact work that expands the bounds of what we’re able to do.

Connect the dots

We engage with curiosity to learn how our work impacts others so that we can problem-solve holistically and work collaboratively.

Be Direct

We share our perspective openly and directly, even when it feels difficult to do so.

Embrace the obstacles

We rise to meet challenges with a sense of urgency, resolve, and optimism.

Champion the customer

We consider and prioritize our customer in all of our decisions

At Tovala we‘re committed to building a workplace that represents a variety of backgrounds, skills, and perspectives and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Everyone is welcome here!

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.