Buyer II

Yamamotoyama USA•Pomona, CA

2d•$75,000 - $85,000

About The Position

The Buyer II is a mid-level procurement role responsible for purchasing materials, maintaining supplier communication, and supporting cost and inventory management. This role manages day-to-day purchasing activities, tracks deliveries, assists in cost analysis, and contributes to supplier performance improvement. The Buyer II partners closely with Planning, Production, QA, and Finance to ensure materials arrive on time and issues are resolved promptly while supporting operational stability and procurement process improvements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or related field (or equivalent experience).
2–4 years of purchasing or supply chain experience.
Strategic Procurement Skills: Strong experience in negotiations and supplier management.
Financial Acumen: Solid understanding of budgeting, cost management, and financial analysis as they relate to outsourcing manufacturing processes.
Leadership Qualities: Strong sense of ownership, follow-through, and urgency.
Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: Comfortable analyzing data and building insights to support decisions.
Technology Proficiency: Comfortable working with data, Excel, and basic reporting. Experience working with ERP systems (Sage X3, SAP, Oracle, or similar).
Clear and professional communication skills.
Adaptability and Flexibility: Ability to adapt to changing market conditions and organizational needs. Willingness to travel as required for the role. Knowledge of global trade regulations and logistics’ best practices preferred.

Nice To Haves

Experience in manufacturing, CPG, or food/beverage industry.
Exposure to co-manufacturing or multi-site operations.
Japanese language ability is a strong plus (written and/or verbal).
APICS (CPIM/CSCP) or ISM certification helpful but not required.

Responsibilities

Execute purchase orders for assigned materials with accuracy and timeliness.
Track order status, follow up on late deliveries, and resolve order discrepancies.
Maintain system data for pricing, lead times, and supplier information.
Support the onboarding of new materials or packaging changes.
Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for assigned suppliers.
Monitor supplier delivery performance (OTIF) and escalate risks as needed.
Participate in supplier calls to review open orders, delays, and corrective actions.
Support the onboarding of new materials or packaging changes.
Work with Production Planning to ensure materials meet required inventory levels.
Review demand, lead times, and safety stock to anticipate supply gaps.
Support shortage reporting, root-cause checks, and recovery follow-ups.
Assist with supplier quotes and cost comparisons for sourcing decisions.
Support basic cost analyses, market checks, and cost-saving initiatives.
Prepare purchasing reports, usage summaries, and supplier dashboards.
Coordinate with QA and R&D for sample testing, spec updates, or supplier documentation.
Support Finance in resolving invoice pricing discrepancies and PO reconciliation.
Collaborate on packaging revisions, engineering changes, or new product needs.
Identify inefficiencies and propose ideas to improve procurement workflow.
Maintain accurate ERP purchasing data and support system cleanup.
Contribute to standardising procurement documentation and procedures.