Buyer

Blake's Orchard Full-Time•Armada, MI

52d•Onsite

About The Position

Since 1946, Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill has been a cornerstone of Michigan agriculture and agritourism — an 80-year family operation with deep roots in Armada and a genuine growth ambition. We make world-class hard and sweet cider, operate tasting rooms and retail across four locations, and host thousands of guests a year. The Buyer owns how we source — the suppliers we partner with, the costs we control, and the materials that keep production running and shelves stocked. This is a strategic role for someone who negotiates hard, thinks in systems, and builds supplier relationships that last. If you’ve turned a vendor conversation into a long-term win, built a sourcing pipeline from scratch, and kept operations moving when supply got tight — we want to hear from you.

Requirements

2–5 years in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain — we care about what you’ve built, not just where you’ve worked
Demonstrated success in supplier negotiations with real, measurable outcomes
Strong commercial instincts — you think in total cost of ownership, not just unit price
Experience managing category strategy and supplier pipelines
Comfortable working in an ERP system to manage POs, inventory, and vendor data
Organized and self-directed; you manage competing priorities without dropping the ball

Nice To Haves

Food or beverage manufacturing experience — cider, beer, wine, juice, or similar
Hands-on NetSuite experience
Experience with seasonal operations and variable demand planning
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, or a related field — or equivalent real-world experience

Responsibilities

Lead supplier negotiations with clear expectations around cost, payment terms, and service levels
Establish and manage supplier contracts that deliver competitive pricing and favorable terms
Benchmark pricing and total cost against market conditions to keep Blake’s ahead
Deliver measurable cost savings across assigned categories — and be able to show your work
Identify, qualify, and onboard new suppliers to improve cost, quality, and supply continuity
Run RFI/RFQ processes and evaluate vendors on cost, capability, and reliability — not just price
Build and maintain a backup supplier pipeline for critical materials so we’re never caught flat-footed
Conduct supplier performance reviews and get ahead of quality or service issues before they hit the floor
Develop and manage category-level purchasing strategies across raw materials, packaging, retail, and bakery supplies
Balance cost, service level, and inventory investment to optimize total business performance
Monitor demand patterns and align purchasing plans with sales forecasts and seasonal needs
Manage inventory levels to improve turns and minimize stockouts or dead stock
Create, track, and manage purchase orders within NetSuite
Maintain accurate purchasing, inventory, and vendor data in the ERP — clean data is non-negotiable
Ensure timely ordering and delivery of materials to keep production and retail running on schedule
Partner with production, retail, bakery, and sales teams to align purchasing with what the business actually needs
Support new product launches and seasonal planning through proactive, forward-leaning sourcing
Be the consistent link between suppliers and internal stakeholders — proactive, not reactive
Identify and implement improvements in purchasing processes, inventory accuracy, and cost control
Establish and track KPIs that measure outcomes — cost savings, fill rates, turns, supplier performance
Drive accountability for results, not just activity