Sr. Buyer

Vibrant Ingredients•Melville, NY

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Buyer is responsible for managing the procurement of raw materials, goods, and services in accordance with production demand requirements to support Vibrant’s operations. This role focuses on ensuring accurate order placement, timely delivery, maintaining quality standards, and optimizing costs while building strong relationships with suppliers. The Buyer will work closely with the enterprise Strategic Sourcing Procurement leadership and cross-functional teams to meet the company’s sourcing and supply chain objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Management, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
Minimum 3–5 years of experience specifically in flavor(s) and/or other food & beverage ingredient procurement.
Strong tactical negotiations and vendor management skills.
Strong cross functional team player.
Ability to multi-task and manage high volume part numbers, low volume demand mix.
Proficiency in MS Office applications, particularly Excel.
Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in manufacturing, agriculture sourcing, or packaging is a plus.
Knowledge of ERP/MRP systems (e.g., Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP, Great Plains) is preferred.
Experience with compliance with trade compliance and import/export logistics.
Experience working closely with R&D and/or S&T.
Certification in Supply Chain Management (e.g., CSCP, CPSM) is a plus.

Responsibilities

Place and track purchase orders for raw materials, flavors, packaging, and other goods.
Schedule goods delivery in accordance to production demand requirement needs.
Collaborate with R&D, food scientists, and quality assurance teams to ensure acquired compounds match product specifications and regulatory standards.
Act as the primary supply chain liaison with the local manufacturing site.
Maintain strong relationships with existing suppliers.
Support Enterprise Strategic Sourcing Initiatives utilizing qualified strategic sources.
Actively negotiate with tactical suppliers on price, terms, and delivery schedules to ensure cost efficiency and service excellence.
Ensure all sourced flavors and other ingredient materials comply with FDA, safety, and industry labeling regulations, and that assigned supplier(s) submit timely paperwork.
Monitor supplier performance using corporate metrics such as on-time delivery, quality, and pricing consistency.
Collaborate with Supply Chain and Operations teams to ensure inventory levels meet production needs while minimizing excess stock.
Proactively address potential supply disruptions and resolve any issues affecting procurement timelines, working in coordination with enterprise Strategic Sourcing.
Support planning and forecasting by aligning purchase schedules with demand.
Ensure purchase order deliveries are issued in accordance with supplier commitments and issue regular change orders accordingly.
Ensure that all purchased goods comply with company quality standards and specifications, and that all flavor materials comply with FDA, safety, and industry labeling regulations.
Work closely with R&D and QA teams to qualify new materials and alternate suppliers.
Oversee adherence to trade compliance and regulatory requirements, including import/export processes.
Maintain accurate procurement records, including purchase orders, supplier contracts, and performance data.
Generate required reports on procurement activities, supplier performance, and local cost savings initiatives.
Use ERP/MRP systems to manage procurement activities and ensure data integrity.
Ensure tracking of all tariff(s); freight adders and/or other special administration fees.
Identify opportunities to streamline procurement processes and reduce costs.
Assist in developing and implementing procurement policies and best practices.
Contribute to cross-functional initiatives to optimize supply chain efficiency.