Procurement Specialist – Food Manufacturing

About the Opportunity

Our client, an established, growing food manufacturer with several production facilities, is adding a Procurement Specialist to its purchasing team. This is a strong entry point into supply chain for someone who likes numbers, keeps things organized, and doesn't let loose ends sit. You don't need a purchasing background to be considered. If you've worked in operations, inventory, logistics, warehousing, customer service, or any fast-moving environment and you're comfortable in Excel, you have a foundation to build on. You'll be trained directly by an experienced buyer and get exposure to how purchasing supports a multi-plant manufacturing operation from end to end.

Responsibilities

• Buy raw materials, supplies, and services from approved vendors within established pricing and purchasing policies
• Enter and manage purchase orders and vendor information in the company's ERP system
• Work with suppliers on pricing, order confirmations, shipping status, and delivery timing
• Track open orders so production has what it needs, when it needs it
• Investigate and resolve mismatches between purchase orders, receipts, invoices, and deliveries
• Keep supplier files, purchasing records, and documentation accurate and current
• Pull ERP data into Excel to build reports, spot discrepancies, and manage follow-ups
• Help with projects such as vendor transitions, packaging reviews, and sample evaluations
• Partner with Operations, Finance, Quality, Maintenance, and Warehouse teams across multiple sites
• Grow into additional purchasing responsibilities over time
• Other projects and duties as needed

Qualifications

• Working knowledge of Excel: sorting, filtering, formulas, and pivot tables
• Strong organization and the ability to juggle multiple deadlines and follow-ups
• Clear, professional communication with coworkers and outside vendors
• A self-starter mindset; you chase down answers instead of waiting for them
• Curiosity about why something went wrong and the persistence to fix it
• Accuracy and attention to detail, balanced with a sense of urgency
• Willingness to learn new systems and processes
• Ability to work well with people at every level and in every department

Education & Experience

• Associate's or bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Logistics, Operations, Finance, or a related field is preferred; equivalent work experience will also be considered
• Background in manufacturing, production, inventory, logistics, purchasing, customer service, or operations is a plus
• Experience placing orders, coordinating with suppliers, or managing purchase orders is a plus
• ERP experience (SAP or similar) is a plus

Work Environment

• Mix of desk work and time on the warehouse and production floor
• Regular walk-throughs of plant and warehouse areas to coordinate with teams
• Extended periods at a computer as needed
• Occasional lifting of up to 25 lbs

Location: South-Central Wisconsin (onsite) | Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday | Pay: $24.00-$27.00 per hour