Job Title: Raw Material Buyer

Department: Supply Chain

Reports to: Director

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for the profitable procurement and timely delivery of products for assigned lines.
• Responsible for obtaining, creating, analyzing, and maintaining appropriate raw goods inventory, focusing on protiens.
• This role researches and sources new suppliers and participates in plant audits to ensure products are up to specifications for vendors and clients.
• Extensive market knowledge on raw materials, including international trading rules, varieties, logistics, manufacturing, storage costs, etc.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to establish and maintain rapport with clients and vendors is imperative. Additionally, will manage and upkeep product specifications and descriptions in cooperation with Research and Development and Quality Assurance as they will work with these teams to inspect quality upon arrival.
• Will have demonstrated abilities of organization with a strong sense of urgency regarding deadlines.
• Effectively manage their time and be able to project needs and plan accordingly.
• Will assist in entering, updating, and releasing raw materials in the Company’s ERP system. There may also be scheduling of pickups, monitoring of receiving and shipping drivers, as well as maintaining and updating corresponding schedules as needed.
• Responsible for managing offsite locations, contacts, and inventory efficiently.
• Will be an astute buyer with effective problem-solving skills and a willingness to seek creative solutions to procurement issues ensuring raw material supplies are not interrupted. In this role, familiarity with freight processes and procedures will be required.
• This role will be responsible for conducting regular review meetings with production to manage and control on hand inventory and aging materials.
• Continuously improve procurement processes.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:

• A Bachelor’s degree in related field or at least five years’ experience in global produce sourcing.
• Familiarity with a variety of the field concepts, practices, and procedures.
• A thorough understanding of warehouse and inventory control policies and procedures.
• Extensive knowledge of material work planning and an understanding of engineering processes and procedures.
• The ability to negotiate best vendor terms, pricing and delivery based on specific budget and schedule requirements.
• Understanding of perishable procurement, logistics, inventory management, marketing, accounting, and financial management practices.
• Strong computer aptitude in MS Office
• A cohesive ability in interpersonal and communication skills, both verbally and written.
• Positively engage with individuals inside and outside of the organization and exercise sound judgement.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, change management environment formulating strategies and utilizing internal/external resources.
• Flexibility with travel and vendor relationships is a must.
• Cooked meat buying and or/ IQF experience preferred, but not required

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; occasional stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and frequent fine finger dexterity.
• 50% or more sitting, 50% or more walking, and 40% or more standing.
• The job is performed under occasional temperature variations and in a food manufacturing production environment.
• Unrestricted visual and audio abilities are required for the safety of all employees. The ability to lift to 40 lbs. is required.