VENDOR RELATIONS PRODUCT COORD
About The Position
The Supply Planning & Procurement Manager is responsible for planning, sourcing, and procuring plant materials and related products required to support customer demand, production schedules, and company growth objectives. This role serves as the primary liaison between Green Lake Nursery and its vendor network, ensuring product availability, competitive pricing, accurate purchasing data, and timely delivery of materials. The position works collaboratively with Sales, Growing, Production, and Accounting teams to develop inventory and procurement strategies that support operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and profitability. The Supply Planning & Procurement Manager is responsible for maintaining procurement information within company systems, monitoring supply chain performance, managing vendor relationships, and identifying opportunities to reduce costs and improve service levels.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Horticulture, Agriculture, Operations Management, or a related field; equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
- Minimum of three (3) years of procurement, purchasing, supply planning, inventory management, or related experience.
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience within the horticulture, nursery, agriculture, landscaping, or related industry.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including data analysis, reporting, and spreadsheet management.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Teams, and related business software.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, changing environment.
- Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.
- Ability to build and maintain professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Must be authorized to work in the United States.
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
Nice To Haves
- Bilingual in English and Spanish.
- Experience within container nursery, greenhouse, horticultural production, or wholesale plant distribution operations.
- Experience working with ERP, MRP, inventory management, or production planning systems.
- Experience negotiating supplier contracts and freight agreements.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute procurement plans to support current and future customer demand, production requirements, and business objectives.
- Forecast plant material and inventory needs through collaboration with Sales, Production, and Growing teams.
- Analyze inventory levels, product demand, and purchasing trends to optimize procurement decisions.
- Increase or decrease purchasing activities based on sales projections, inventory positions, and operational requirements.
- Monitor supplier lead times, product availability, and market conditions to mitigate supply risks.
- Establish, maintain, and strengthen professional relationships with vendors and suppliers.
- Negotiate pricing, freight costs, delivery schedules, payment terms, and service agreements to achieve favorable business outcomes.
- Evaluate supplier performance, including quality, reliability, responsiveness, pricing, and delivery metrics.
- Resolve supply chain issues, shortages, delays, quality concerns, and other vendor-related challenges in a timely manner.
- Identify and qualify new suppliers to improve sourcing flexibility and business continuity.
- Create, review, and manage purchase orders and supplier acknowledgments for accuracy.
- Verify pricing, quantities, delivery commitments, and order specifications.
- Coordinate with Accounting to ensure purchasing documentation is accurate and complete for processing and reconciliation.
- Maintain records of purchasing activity, vendor communications, and procurement performance metrics.
- Maintain accurate procurement and inventory information within the company's Production Module and related business systems.
- Enter and update purchasing, inventory, and production-related data in a timely and accurate manner.
- Communicate procurement changes that may impact production schedules or customer commitments.
- Partner with Production Management to ensure schedules align with material availability.
- Analyze procurement processes and supply chain performance to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements and cost reductions.
- Develop recommendations to improve inventory management, purchasing practices, vendor performance, and operational effectiveness.
- Support special projects and process improvement initiatives as assigned.
- Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned to meet business needs.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
