Buyer

WATERSHED FOODS LLC•Gridley, IL

2d•$80,000 - $100,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Buyer supports daily purchasing execution for production, warehouse, and supply chain operations. The role manages tactical purchasing activities and works with Strategic Sourcing, Planning, Production, Warehouse, Quality, and Logistics to help ensure materials, packaging, supplies, and services are available when needed. It supports a growing supply chain organization by focusing on purchasing execution rather than strategic procurement. The Buyer creates and issues purchase orders, maintains accurate ERP information, follows up with suppliers, expedites orders, communicates material availability risks, and helps resolve receiving and invoice discrepancies. The position also coordinates supplier and internal communications and supports urgent purchasing needs in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Requirements

1 to 3 years of experience in purchasing, supply chain, inventory control, production support, customer service, logistics, or related business functions.
Strong attention to detail and follow-through.
Ability to manage multiple urgent priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Comfort working with suppliers and internal departments.
Basic understanding of purchase orders, lead times, delivery dates, and supplier confirmations.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and ERP or business system data entry.
Strong follow-up discipline, sense of urgency, detail accuracy, supplier communication, internal customer service, problem solving, ERP accuracy, time management, cross-functional coordination, ability to work under pressure, ownership mindset, and willingness to learn procurement and supply chain processes.

Responsibilities

Create and issue purchase orders based on approved requests, reorder requirements, production needs, and management direction.
Confirm purchase order details with suppliers, including pricing, quantities, due dates, freight terms, and delivery locations.
Maintain accurate purchase order information in the ERP system.
Follow up on open purchase orders, late orders, backorders, and supplier delivery commitments.
Communicate material availability risks to appropriate internal stakeholders and support urgent purchasing requirements.
Maintain supplier contact lists and coordinate with appropriate personnel to update Innatrack.
Monitor open purchase orders and supplier delivery performance; expedite materials as needed.
Coordinate supplier communications about delayed or partial shipments, shortages, substitutions, and order changes.
Escalate supplier performance issues to the Strategic Sourcing Manager or Director of Supply Chain when required.
Help reduce last-minute shortages through proactive follow-up and clear communication.
Support resolution of receiving discrepancies, such as quantity variances, incorrect items, missing paperwork, damaged goods, and shipment errors.
Work with Warehouse, Receiving, Quality, Accounts Payable, and suppliers to resolve purchase order and receipt mismatches.
Follow up on supplier credits, replacements, corrected documents, and return authorizations as needed.
Assist with invoice discrepancies involving pricing, freight, quantity, or purchase order details.
Work with Production Scheduling to understand urgent material needs.
Support Warehouse and Receiving teams with delivery questions and purchase order discrepancies.
Coordinate with Quality regarding supplier documentation, certificates of analysis, holds, and material release issues as needed.