Purchasing - Buyer

Summary:  Coordinates inventory replenishment activities with suppliers, sales, logistics and operations for assigned categories.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Place purchase orders with vendors utilizing an awareness of seasonal fluctuations, market effects and other information that require a high attention to detail to avoid spoilage, overstocks, and shortages. 
• Manage and maintain the entire Purchase-to-Pay process, covering:
15. PO Creation
16. Vendor Confirmation
17. Accurate expected delivery date updates
18. Collaboration with Accounts Payable to ensure payment.
• Maintain Purchasing system data to effectively generate suggested POs.
• Maintain necessary required vendor documents (electronic and physical), such as W-9’s, Indemnities, etc.
• Work closely with:
15. Vendors to ensure POs are filled and delivered in a timely fashion.
16. Vendors to manage FDA issues.
17. Logistics to minimize freight expenses.
18. Sales Managers to manage out-of-stock or over-stock risks.
19. Customer Service teams to enable sales order growth.
20. Buyers to build upon best-practices.
• Build and maintain vendor relationships to not only support PO fulfillment, but also negotiate volume discounts and price breaks wherever possible.
• Manage Fusion system issues that impact Purchasing and Receiving.
• Maintain BFC dating system to minimize close dated issues and Expired product impact.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education and/or Experience:
15. 5+ years buying experience with a focus on Specialty Food Products for a multi-unit Distribution Organization.
16. Bachelor’s degree from accredited four-year college or university preferred.

• Previous food service distribution and/or food importing experience strongly preferred.
• Commodity product awareness including blanket commitments, contractual processes, and appropriate market tracking.
• Advanced Excel Skill and additional Computer skills (JDE, Microsoft Suite – Word and PowerPoint, etc.)

• Competencies and/or Attributes:
• Must be a team player with a positive attitude.
• Excellent verbal/written communication skills and a high level of analytical capabilities within Excel
• Self-starter, professional, goal oriented and able to handle multiple tasks.

15. Must have a sense of urgency and be able to work under pressure, be comfortable in a fast-paced, metrics-driven environment.
16. Flexible with the ability to work well with all departments and levels of staff both internally & externally.
17. Professional demeanor during all interactions with vendors, customers and fellow employees via phone or in-person.
18. Have a drive to advance within the organization