Summary: Places purchase orders with approved vendors for raw materials, packaging products, and other unprocessed ingredients.  Also manages a min/max inventory system which supports the plants in an efficient manner.                

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned:

• Prepares and submits purchase orders to approved vendors for replenishment of inventory and other supplies or services as may be required. Purchases are generally made within target inventory levels. 
• Receives and reviews purchase requisitions, maintains material and vendor data files, monitors movement and maintains adequate inventory levels to hit target fill rates.
• Works with vendors to obtain information concerning product/service, price, ability of vendor to produce the product, and within the required delivery date.
• Maintains records of purchased items, costs, delivery, performance and inventory to ensure accurate documentation of transactions and services.
• Discusses defects and shortages/overages with quality control/inspection/warehouse/distribution personnel to determine the source of the defect/shortage/overage.  Initiates corrective action to reconcile the problem.
• Performs other duties as assigned or requested by management. 

Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Education and/or Experience:                  

Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university in business, materials management, or related field; or at least five years experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.  At least one year of purchasing/buying experience highly suggested.

Language Skills:                    

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. 

Mathematical Skills:  

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry.  Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. 

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. 

Computer Skills:                    

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Accounting software; Inventory software; Spreadsheet software and Word Processing software.  Basic computer skills with Microsoft Office programs is required. 

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. 

Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

 The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.