Category Buyer

KETTLE CUISINE LLC•Lynn, MA

2d•$65,000 - $80,000•Onsite

About The Position

Responsible for the procurement of raw materials, communication with vendors, and ensuring quality standards of raw materials. This position has the authority to act as a purchasing agent for the Company. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Category Buyer encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Work requires little or no physical effort. Mental & Visual Demands Work performed by this position requires a significant level of mental concentration to manage multiple complex tasks. Work requires frequent visual effort for extended periods of time. Work Environment and Hazards Employee typically works in a normal office environment free from noise and hazards with occasional exposure to heat and cold. This position has limited exposure to hazards that require the exercise of caution with the little likelihood of injury. Less than 10% travel is required for this position. Travel may be out-of-state and occasionally require overnight stays.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
Requires one - three years of experience
Must be proficient with MS Office programs, specifically Excel and Outlook.
Strong written, verbal communication and presentation skills
Financial and business acumen
Ability to communicate effectively with suppliers and internal customers
Strong negotiation skills, interpersonal skills, and problem-solving ability
Working knowledge of Purchase to Pay business process
Strong understanding of ERP Systems
Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders
Ability to read and interpret raw material specifications and supplier documents
Work independently in a face-paced environment
Self-starter able to conceptualize and drive initiatives forward
Positive attitude and motivated by contributing to the overall success of the team
Obsessive attention to detail, well organized and able to juggle many projects at once
Willing to address difficult situations head on with patience and respect

Nice To Haves

On-the-job training of 0-3 months.
Demonstrated excellence in driving consistently strong profitable sales growth
Experience working with Procurement/Supply Chain Planning
Knowledge in chilled/refrigerated manufacturing industry
Passionate about food

Responsibilities

Plan and execute raw material requirements for internal customers through ERP System.
Reorder raw materials within lead time specifications as needed, enter purchase order with detail to quantity and cost, communicate purchase order to vendor, and confirm/update pricing as needed.
Adherence to inventory levels based on usage, forecast, minimum and maximum inventory ranges.
Monitor daily raw material orders/logistics to ensure on-time deliveries and efficient production.
Contact vendors when orders do not meet our standards (Ex: out of spec, not on time, incorrect quantity).
Maintain product reorder data including lead time, minimum order quantity, minimum and maximum inventory levels, primary and secondary vendor.
Maintain Vendor Database with contact and ordering info for customer service and sales representatives.
Negotiate with vendors for competitive pricing and review new products.
Qualify new suppliers as business needs change for the organization.
Develop and implement cost reduction programs.
New Vendor and Product setup (price quotation and negotiation, raw material specs, data setup).
Invoice approval and reconciliation by researching supplier information, invoice approval software, and ERP data.
Maintain pricing information for the purpose of tracking and placing contracts.
Attend weekly KPI meetings and action initiatives to improve quality, reduce cost and reduce inventory.
Use internal Supplier Evaluation Program to monitor supplier performance.
Assist Operations Team (Receiving/Warehouse/Production/Planning/Transport) with raw material issues, delivery and pickup times, and ensure customers and supplier are aligned.
Work with QA to action expiring inventory, manage raw material rejections and returns, and other issues as needed.
Due to 24-hour delivery schedules, after hours and weekend communication may be required when issues arise.
Project Management – Develops Plans; Coordinates projects; Communicates changes and progress; Completes projects on time and budget.
May perform other duties as required.