Procurement Specialist

About the role

The growing food manufacturing organization is seeking an experienced Procurement Specialist to support strategic purchasing, supplier partnerships, and business growth. This position is responsible for sourcing, purchasing, supplier management, inventory planning, and ensuring an uninterrupted supply of materials required to support production operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Sources and procures raw materials, ingredients, packaging, and indirect supplies.
• Develops and maintains relationships with suppliers and vendors.
• Negotiates pricing, contracts, and service agreements.
• Maintains inventory levels and forecasts purchasing needs.
• Analyzes purchasing trends and identifies cost-saving opportunities.
• Manages supplier performance and ensures service expectations are met.
• Collaborates with production and warehouse teams to ensure material availability.
• Resolves supply chain disruptions and material shortages.
• Maintains accurate purchasing records and documentation.
• Reviews and processes purchase orders and supplier invoices.
• Supports inventory management and cycle count activities.
• Ensures compliance with food safety, quality, and company standards.
• Participates in continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Procurement, Logistics, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 5 years of procurement experience required.
• Food manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Experience purchasing ingredients, packaging, and production materials preferred.
• Strong negotiation and vendor management skills.
• Knowledge of inventory management and forecasting principles.
• Experience with ERP, MRP, or WMS systems preferred.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.

Preferred Experience

• Food manufacturing
• Purchasing and strategic sourcing
• Inventory planning
• Vendor negotiations
• Cost reduction initiatives
• ERP/MRP systems
• Forecasting and demand planning