Senior Buyer

Job Summary

The Senior Buyer owns procurement of assigned ingredient categories used in frozen and refrigerated prepared meals. This senior individual-contributor role extends well beyond transactional purchasing: it leads supplier negotiations, manages commodity cost and supply risk in volatile ingredient markets, and safeguards continuity of supply at target cost, quality, and food-safety standards.

As category lead, the Senior Buyer sets the sourcing approach, drives cost-down initiatives, and serves as the subject-matter expert for their commodities across Operations, Planning, R&D, Quality, and Finance while helping raise the overall capability of the purchasing team.

Key Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day buying for assigned categories ,proteins, produce, dairy, dry goods, and other raw materials to meet production schedules without interruption.
• Convert MRP output and planner input into accurate purchase orders at the right quantity, timing, and cost.
• Define and maintain category sourcing strategy, including single versus multi-source decisions and the 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 reach the production floor.

Supplier Management & Negotiation

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

Cost & Risk Management

• Track commodity markets and cost drivers; 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.
• Mitigate supply risk through buffer strategies, alternate sourcing, and contingency plans for high-risk or single-source items.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Compliance

• Partner with Planning on demand signals and inventory targets, QA on supplier and ingredient quality, and 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.
• Support food-safety and regulatory compliance in sourcing decisions supplier approval status, documentation, and FEFO-friendly ordering.

Leadership & Mentorship

• Partner with the Senior Purchasing Manager to strengthen purchasing processes, controls, and reporting, and help build the capability of the broader team.

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.
• Strong Excel skills analysis, cost comparisons, and supplier scorecards.
• Working knowledge of food-safety and quality fundamentals in a manufacturing setting (GMPs, supplier approval, and lot and shelf-life considerations).
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work cross-functionally across Operations, Planning, QA, R&D, and Finance.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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).

Physical Requirements & Essential Functions

• Lift, push, or pull up to 30 lbs unaided.
• Frequent turning, twisting, squatting, kneeling, bending, stooping, standing, and walking.
• Repetitive hand motion in both hands, including forceful gripping.
• Ability to climb stairs as required to access work areas.
• Other duties, tasks, and responsibilities may be assigned at any time.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application online using the link below.