Junior Procurement Associate

The LunchMaster•Hayward, CA

About The Position

Nob Hill Catering DBA The LunchMaster is the pioneer in preparing and distributing high quality meals to local schools. The LunchMaster has worked successfully with 100+ Bay Area, Central Valley and Los Angeles schools for more than 20 years to provide delicious, nutritious meals that kids and adults like, eat and enjoy. The LunchMaster is seeking a highly organized, detail-driven Associate Buyer to support our procurement operations and ensure that our supply chain runs smoothly and efficiently. You will work closely with our COO, who leads all procurement strategy and vendor negotiations. Your role is to bring structure, accuracy, and operational rigor to the day-to-day buying process—ensuring ingredients meet nutritional standards, purchases flow correctly into our planning systems, and storage/logistics remain cost-efficient. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who understands the rhythm of school foodservice—menu cycles, nutritional compliance, vendor lead times—and wants to be part of a mission-driven company serving K-12 students every day.

Requirements

2+ years of experience in procurement, purchasing, foodservice operations, supply chain, or related fields.
Exceptional attention to detail with strong organizational skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced production environment.
Strong communication skills across teams (dietitian, operations, logistics, COO).
Proficiency with Excel and purchasing or inventory management systems.

Nice To Haves

Experience in K-12 nutrition, school meal programs, or child nutrition compliance.
Familiarity with USDA requirements, CN labels, allergen management, and menu production processes.
Experience with ERP, MRP, or digital procurement platforms.

Responsibilities

Vendor Specification Management
Collect and validate product specifications, ingredient statements, CN labels, allergen profiles, and packaging details from all approved vendors.
Ensure complete documentation is provided to the dietitian for nutritional analysis andmenu compliance.
Maintain an accurate, up-to-date database of product specifications, updating promptlywhen vendors make changes.
Purchase Entry & Materials Planning Support
Enter all purchase orders accurately and on time into the procurement or ERP system.
Ensure clean and timely data flow to support production planning and inventorymanagement.
Identify and escalate discrepancies between ordered and delivered items.
Menu Planning & Procurement Alignment
Learn the weekly and monthly menu planning process, understanding productionforecasts and menu cycles.
Partner with the COO to identify procurement gaps, supply risks, or cost-saving opportunities.
Monitor vendor performance and product availability, escalating risks proactively.
Storage & Logistics Oversight
Manage relationships with outside storage and logistics partners to ensure efficient dispatch, inbound deliveries, and cost control.
Track inventory in external storage to ensure FIFO rotation and minimize waste.
Coordinate with vendors and internal teams to streamline delivery scheduling and inbound logistics.
Other Duties & responsibilities as assigned