Tactical Buyer

WATERSHED FOODS LLC•Gridley, IL

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Tactical Buyer is responsible for supporting day-to-day purchasing execution for Watershed Foods by ensuring purchase orders are placed accurately, supplier confirmations are received, material shortages are escalated, and urgent operational requirements are addressed in a timely manner. This position plays a critical role in keeping production, warehouse, and supply chain operations moving by managing tactical purchasing activities that support daily execution. The Tactical Buyer will work closely with Strategic Sourcing, Planning, Production, Warehouse, Quality, and Logistics to ensure materials, packaging, supplies, and services are available when needed. This role is designed to support a growing supply chain organization by separating tactical purchasing execution from strategic procurement work. The Tactical Buyer will focus on execution discipline, order follow-up, expediting, receiving issue resolution, supplier communication, and ERP accuracy.

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.
Comfortable 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.

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 with suppliers on open purchase orders, late orders, backorders, and delivery commitments.
Communicate material availability risks to the appropriate internal stakeholders.
Support urgent purchasing requirements when production, warehouse, customer service, or supply chain needs are at risk.
Maintain supplier list contacts.
Coordinate with appropriate personnel to update Innatrack.
Monitor open purchase orders and supplier delivery performance.
Expedite materials as needed to support production schedules and operational needs.
Coordinate supplier communication related to delayed shipments, 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, including quantity variances, incorrect items, missing paperwork, damaged goods, and supplier shipment errors.
Work with Warehouse, Receiving, Quality, AP, and suppliers to resolve purchase orders and receipt of mismatches.
Follow up on supplier credits, replacements, corrected documents, and return authorizations when needed.
Assist with invoice discrepancies related to pricing, freight, quantity, or purchase order details.
Work closely with Production Scheduling to understand urgent material needs.
Support Warehouse and Receiving teams with delivery questions and purchase order discrepancies.
Coordinate with Quality on supplier documentation, COAs, holds, and material release issues as needed.