Buyer

Job Description

Job Description

Buyer

Department: Supply Chain – Purchasing
Reports to: VP, Supply Chain
Location: On-site, full-time
Classification: Exempt

About the Role

Fresia Foods is a growing manufacturer of frozen filled pasta and Italian specialty foods. We are seeking an experienced Buyer to manage the day-to-day purchasing of assigned raw materials, packaging, MRO supplies, plant consumables, and services.

The Buyer will manage purchase orders from creation through delivery, maintain supplier communication, monitor material requirements, and help ensure the production facilities have the materials needed to operate effectively. This is a hands-on purchasing role requiring experience with suppliers, purchase orders, inventory requirements, and ERP or MRP systems.

The Buyer will work closely with Planning, Production, Quality, Receiving, Finance, and Accounts Payable and will report directly to the VP of Supply Chain.

Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesPurchasing and Order Management

• Review production requirements, inventory levels, MRP recommendations, and purchasing requests to determine material needs.
• Create and issue purchase orders for assigned materials, supplies, and services.
• Confirm supplier pricing, quantities, lead times, and delivery dates.
• Manage purchase orders from placement through receipt and invoice resolution.
• Monitor open purchase orders and follow up with suppliers to ensure materials arrive on time and in full.
• Expedite, reschedule, or adjust purchase orders as production and inventory requirements change.
• Maintain accurate pricing, quantities, delivery dates, and supplier information in the ERP system.
• Identify potential shortages, late deliveries, or other supply concerns and promptly communicate risks to the VP of Supply Chain and appropriate internal departments.

Supplier Coordination

• Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for assigned suppliers.
• Request and compare supplier quotes based on price, availability, lead time, freight, and service.
• Negotiate routine pricing, payment terms, order quantities, lead times, and freight arrangements.
• Follow up with suppliers regarding past-due orders, shortages, delivery issues, damaged materials, and performance concerns.
• Assist with identifying alternate suppliers when materials are unavailable or supply risks arise.
• Maintain professional and productive supplier relationships.
• Coordinate with Quality and other internal departments to obtain required supplier documentation.

Inventory and Material Support

• Monitor inventory levels and purchasing requirements for assigned materials.
• Work with Planning and Production to understand changes in demand and upcoming material needs.
• Help maintain accurate reorder points, order quantities, lead times, and safety-stock information in the ERP system.
• Support purchasing activities for new products, material changes, trials, and samples.
• Track materials with long lead times, limited availability, or other supply concerns.

Receiving, Quality, and Invoice Resolution

• Work with Receiving and Quality to resolve quantity discrepancies, damaged materials, rejected products, returns, and supplier credits.
• Research and resolve purchase-order, receipt, pricing, and invoice discrepancies.
• Partner with Accounts Payable to resolve three-way match exceptions and ensure invoices can be processed accurately.
• Maintain appropriate purchasing records and supporting documentation.

Data and Reporting

• Maintain accurate item, supplier, pricing, and purchasing information in the ERP system.
• Review open purchase-order reports and follow up on overdue or incomplete orders.
• Assist with reporting related to purchasing activity, supplier delivery performance, pricing, inventory, and material shortages.
• Maintain organized records of supplier communications, pricing agreements, quotes, and purchase-order changes.
• Follow established purchasing procedures and identify opportunities to improve day-to-day purchasing processes.

QualificationsRequired

• Three or more years of purchasing, procurement, Buyer, or Buyer/Planner experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience creating and managing purchase orders from placement through delivery.
• Experience communicating directly with suppliers regarding pricing, availability, lead times, and delivery issues.
• Experience working with an ERP or MRP system, such as NetSuite, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics 365, or a similar platform.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the ability to organize and analyze purchasing data.
• Strong follow-up, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond effectively to changing production requirements.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining accurate purchasing records.

Preferred

• Purchasing experience in food, beverage, consumer products, or another regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience purchasing raw ingredients, packaging, MRO supplies, or plant consumables.
• Experience using NetSuite.
• Working knowledge of inventory management, production planning, and supplier performance.
• Familiarity with food-safety or supplier-documentation requirements, including SQF, BRC, or FSMA.
• Associate or bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, operations, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

What Success Looks Like

• Purchase orders are entered accurately and maintained with current pricing, quantities, and delivery dates.
• Suppliers are consistently followed up with, and overdue orders are addressed promptly.
• Material shortages and delivery risks are identified and communicated before they affect production.
• Purchasing, supplier, and item information in the ERP system is accurate and reliable.
• Receiving and invoice discrepancies are resolved in a timely manner.
• Internal teams receive clear and timely updates regarding material availability and purchasing concerns.

Schedule and Work Environment

Schedule: Monday through Friday, on-site at the production facility. Occasional supplier visits may be required.

Work Environment: Primarily an office environment, with regular interaction on the production floor, in warehouse areas, and in cold-storage environments.