Supply Chain - Regional Purchasing Manager

Position Summary: The Purchasing Manager will manage a team of Purchase Order Processors.

What you’ll do:

• Manage small team of Purchase Order Processors for the Southwest Region 
• Coordinate with PO Processors, Category Managers, Logistics and other departments to ensure seamless operation of purchasing tools. 
• Work with Sales leads on branch needs pertaining to inventory flow (in and out)
• Work with Buyers to clean and maintain purchasing-specific data 
• Work with Buyers, Suppliers and Operations to develop quantity and frequency guidelines for products to minimize handing and operational costs.
• Work with Buyers, Category Management, Operations and Logistics to develop direct sourcing models that are Supplier delivered or utilizing 3rd party Logistics for transferred products with current Hub suppliers
• Lead the ongoing Mitigation of Waste Management issues proactively to minimize losses due to dating limitations.
• Measure and manage daily Cost of Stockouts; work with all members of the Purchasing department to adjust where required to keep Cost of Stockouts within acceptable parameters.
• Collaborate with Category Managers to amend individual goals as deemed necessary while maintaining achievement of overall department inventory level goals.
• Provide backup vacation coverage for Category Managers and assist with workload of fellow team members when absent.
• Other projects or tasks assigned by Management as needed.
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About you:

• 8+ years buying experience with a focus on Specialty Food Products
• Very strong follow-through, organizational and analytical skills
• Bachelor’s degree from accredited four-year college or university preferred
• Previous food service distribution and/or food importing experience strongly preferred
• Very strong computer skills (JDE, Microsoft Suite – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Must be a team player with a positive attitude
• Excellent verbal/written communication skills and basic technology proficiency (Excel, PPT, etc.)
• Self-starter, professional, goal oriented and able to handle multiple tasks
• Must have a sense of urgency and be able to work under pressure, be comfortable in a fast-paced, metrics-driven environment
• Flexible with the ability to work well with all departments and levels of staff both internally & externally
• Willingness to travel within the Region
• Professional demeanor during all interactions with vendors, customers and fellow employees via phone or in-person
• Have a drive to advance within the organization
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