Summary/Objective

This position is responsible for purchasing and supporting operations for all dairy ingredients and non-dairy ingredients requirements for multiple Savencia Cheese USA manufacturing plants assuring optimum cost and proper inventory to meet scheduling demands and spend requirements. This position will assist and support the Sourcing Manager and Lead Buyer purchasing strategies.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Responsible for purchasing and obtaining dairy ingredients and non-dairy ingredients by determining materials required to satisfy production requirements and customer orders, placing purchase orders and releases of stocks as required from internal and external storage programs;
• Utilize SAP transactions and financial accounting to facilitate purchasing functions and MRP inventory management systems to meet organizational material procurement and operations goals. This will involve monitoring inventories and production schedules daily, purchasing and expediting materials from vendors and/or outside storage facilities and from plant to plant;
• Assure orders are placed within budget standards and inventory guidelines set by the Sourcing Manager;
• Coordinate ingredient transportation requirements with Supply Chain department, individual plants and suppliers to facilitate orders and determine the most efficient transportation and load schedules to cover the demand at the best total cost;
• Consult with internal and external stakeholders on inventory reconciliations to assure accuracy;
• Works carefully with Sourcing Manager and Lead Buyer adopting in new materials, modification of materials and discontinuations of materials in the SAP system to meet lead-time requirements, assure proper stocks and minimize cost of discontinued inventories;
• Create and communicate change notifications to appropriate operations and internal stake holders when raw material changes are occurring;
• Responsible for reconciling daily and monthly dairy ingredient and non-dairy ingredient invoices and load settlements. Work with finance to reconcile supplier invoice discrepancies, credits and payment issues;
• Supports Sourcing Manager and Lead Buyer in meeting organizational strategic buying, purchasing programs, contractual obligations and cost savings initiatives;
• Assists and supports R&D and Operational objectives;
• Participate in continuous improvement plans with Lead Buyer for SAP development, internal systems management and discrepancy, quality and conflict resolutions;
• Assures company is in compliance with Federal and State Milk Marketing requirements, monthly reporting and audits, as required;
• Assists and supports all required financial reporting;
• Enforces company purchasing policies and procedures;
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• 2 years of experience in manufacturing/MRP environment
• 2 years of centralized purchasing experience
• Advanced knowledge and proficiency using a PC and programs such as Microsoft Office, SAP, Copier/Printer, calculator
• Willingness to work well with internal and external stakeholders to meet organizational goals and objectives in a fast paced and changing environment
• Strong professional negotiations and communication skills
• Exceptional customer service skills and detail orientation
• Team building skills
• Four-year degree, business administration or commensurate work experience (preferred)
• Advanced computer proficiency - SAP experience (preferred)

Competencies

• Technical Capacity
• Communication Proficiency
• Time Management
• Organizational Skills
• Customer/Client Focus
• Collaboration Skills

Your Work Environment | Working conditions and safety considerations:

• This is a full-time position. Additional time may be required occasionally to meet the requirements of the job.
• The employee works in an office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, etc.
• This position has very minimal travel requirements.

Food Safety and Product Quality

This position is responsible for supporting the food safety management system and for communicating food safety issues to the Quality Department.