Senior Buyer

The Senior Buyer owns procurement of assigned ingredient categories for frozen and refrigerated prepared meals. This is a senior individual contributor role that goes well beyond transactional purchasing. The Senior Buyer leads supplier negotiations, manages commodity cost and supply risk across volatile ingredient markets, and protects continuity of supply at target cost, quality, and food safety standards.

As the category lead for their assigned commodities, the Senior Buyer sets the sourcing approach, drives cost-down initiatives, and serves as the go-to expert for those categories across Operations, Planning, R&D, Quality, and Finance. The role helps raise the capability of the purchasing team.

Key Responsibilities

Sourcing and Procurement

• Own day-to-day buying for assigned ingredient categories (proteins, produce, dairy, dry goods, and other raw materials) to meet production schedules without supply interruption.
• Convert demand and material requirements into purchase orders at the right quantity, timing, and cost, working from MRP output and planner input.
• Set and maintain sourcing strategy for assigned categories, including single vs. multi-source decisions and supplier qualification pipeline (in partnership with QA and R&D).
• Manage purchase order accuracy, confirmations, and on-time delivery; resolve shortages, delays, and discrepancies before they hit the production floor.

Supplier Management and Negotiation

• Lead commercial negotiations for assigned categories: price, payment terms, lead times, minimum order quantities, and service levels.
• Build and manage supplier relationships, run regular business reviews, and hold suppliers accountable to cost, quality, and delivery commitments.
• Own contracts and pricing agreements for assigned categories, including renewals and renegotiations ahead of expiration.

Cost and Risk Management

• Track commodity markets and cost drivers for assigned categories; forecast cost movement and flag risk to the Senior Purchasing Manager and Finance early.
• Lead cost-down and cost-avoidance initiatives and document realized savings.
• Manage supply risk through buffer strategies, alternate sourcing, and contingency plans for high-risk or single-source items.

Cross-Functional and Compliance

• Partner with Planning on demand signals and inventory targets, with QA on supplier and ingredient quality, and with R&D on new ingredient sourcing for product development.
• Maintain accurate purchasing data in the ERP (xTuple), including item, vendor, pricing, and lead-time records for assigned categories.
• Support food safety and regulatory compliance in sourcing decisions (supplier approval status, documentation, FEFO-friendly ordering).

Leadership and Mentorship

• Help the Senior Purchasing Manager improve purchasing processes, controls, and reporting.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of purchasing or procurement experience in food or beverage manufacturing.
• Direct experience buying ingredient commodities (proteins, produce, dairy, or dry goods) with real exposure to commodity price volatility.
• Proven negotiation track record with measurable cost savings.
• Strong working knowledge of MRP and ERP systems and purchasing workflows.
• Solid Excel skills (analysis, cost comparisons, supplier scorecards).
• Understanding of food safety and quality basics in a manufacturing setting (GMPs, supplier approval, lot and shelf-life considerations).
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work across Operations, Planning, QA, R&D, and Finance.

Essential job functions

• Lift, push, pull 30 lbs unaided
• Turning, twisting, Squatting, Kneeling, bending, stooping, standing and walking
• hand motion, left hand and right hand including forceful gripping
• bility to climb stairs as required to access work areas
• Other duties task and responsibilities may be assigned at any time

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, or a related field.
• Experience with xTuple or a comparable manufacturing ERP.
• CPSM, CSCP, or APICS certification.
• Experience in frozen or refrigerated prepared foods.
• Bilingual English/Spanish.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person