Maintenance Buyer

Jack Link's Protein Snacks•Perry, GA

5d•$67,000 - $73,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Maintenance Buyer is responsible for the strategic procurement and management of Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) materials supporting a highly automated USDA-regulated beef stick manufacturing facility. This role manages a multi-million-dollar annual R&M budget and ensures uninterrupted plant operations by maintaining optimal inventory levels, supplier performance, and cost control across critical spare parts, consumables, and services.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
5+ years of MRO purchasing experience in manufacturing (food, beverage, or CPG strongly preferred).
Experience managing large-scale R&M budgets ($5M+ preferred).
Strong knowledge of industrial components (motors, conveyors, PLCs, pneumatics, robotics, packaging equipment).
Proficiency in ERP/CMMS systems and Microsoft Excel (advanced level).

Nice To Haves

Experience in USDA-regulated or food manufacturing environments.
Familiarity with automation systems (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, robotics systems).
CPIM, CPM, CPSM, or similar certification.

Responsibilities

Develop category strategies for high-spend MRO segments (e.g., automation components, OEM parts, electrical, controls, packaging systems).
Balance OEM vs. aftermarket sourcing to optimize cost without increasing downtime risk.
Build redundancy in critical supply chains (dual sourcing for high-risk/long-lead items).
Establish and manage supplier scorecards: On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) Lead time adherence Quality/reject rates Responsiveness during downtime events
Negotiate long-term agreements (LTAs), blanket POs, and consignment programs to reduce working capital and expedite availability.
Manage vendor escalation during line-down events (expedited freight, priority production, aftermarket solutions).
Lead criticality analysis with Maintenance & Reliability: Identify “zero-fail” components (PLC cards, drives, robotics, proprietary OEM parts).
Define stocking strategy: on-site, regional, vendor-managed, or non-stock.
Set and continuously refine: Min/Max levels Safety stock based on failure rates and lead times Reorder points tied to usage patterns and predictive maintenance insights
Eliminate obsolete and duplicate SKUs while standardizing parts across lines where possible.
Implement kitting strategies for: Preventive Maintenance (PMs) Planned shutdowns
Improve inventory accuracy and cycle counting discipline (≥98% target in high-performing plants).
Act as embedded partner to Maintenance, Reliability Engineers, and Planners: Align procurement with weekly/daily maintenance schedules Pre-stage parts for planned work vs. reactive purchasing
Support predictive and condition-based maintenance programs: Ensure availability of failure-prone components before predicted end-of-life
Participate in root cause failure analysis (RCFA): Identify recurring part failures and sourcing alternatives Recommend higher reliability or upgraded components
Coordinate materials for shutdowns, capital installs, and line expansions: Sequencing deliveries to match project timelines Preventing overbuying or last-minute shortages
Directly manage MRO procurement tied to a multi-million-dollar R&M budget with clear accountability for: Cost containment Spend visibility Savings delivery
Identify and execute cost levers: Vendor consolidation Specification standardization Cross-plant leverage (if applicable) Repair vs. replace analysis Use of local/regional suppliers vs. OEM pricing
Track and report: Monthly spend vs. budget PPV (Purchase Price Variance) Cost avoidance vs. realized savings
Challenge emergencies and spot buys that drive price premiums and freight costs.
Operate with urgency in a 24/7, high-speed automated facility where downtime costs are significant: Rapid sourcing and logistics coordination for critical breakdown events
Identify nearest available inventory (distributors, sister plants, brokers)
Maintain “ready-now” sourcing playbooks for: Motors, drives, sensors, PLC components Robotics and high-value automation parts
Coordinate expedited shipping, hot-shot delivery, and vendor field service when needed.
Maintain after-hours supplier contact lists and escalation protocols.
Own integrity of MRO data in ERP/CMMS: Accurate part numbers, descriptions, BOM alignment Supplier records and pricing updates
Leverage system tools for: Spend analytics Demand forecasting Inventory optimization modeling
Improve purchasing workflows: Reduce PR-to-PO cycle time Increase automation (blanket orders, catalogs)
Drive standard work for: Requisitions Emergency purchases Vendor onboarding
Ensure all purchased materials meet: USDA and FDA requirements Food-grade/sanitary design standards where applicable
Validate suppliers against: Food safety and quality expectations Documentation requirements (COAs, traceability)
Support audit readiness (USDA, SQF, BRC): Maintain organized procurement records Ensure traceability on critical materials
Manage risk related to: Supply disruptions Counterfeit or non-spec parts Non-compliant materials entering the facility
Lead or support initiatives that improve: Equipment uptime through parts availability Inventory turns and working capital efficiency
Identify automation or digital enhancements: VMI (Vendor Managed Inventory) Barcode/RFID tracking Predictive inventory linked to IIoT data
Benchmark against industry best practices in MRO procurement.
Drive cross-functional alignment between Procurement, Maintenance, Engineering, and Finance.
Serve as the single point of contact for all MRO procurement activities within the plant.
Translate operational needs (maintenance urgency) into procurement actions and priorities.
Communicate trade-offs clearly: Cost vs. uptime risk Lead time vs. stocking cost
Influence without authority across Maintenance, Operations, and Finance.