Buyer

Job Title

The Buyer is responsible for procuring and managing assigned fresh, chilled, frozen, and perishable food products to ensure product availability, customer satisfaction, and company profitability.

Essential Functions

• Manage purchasing activities for assigned product categories.
• Place accurate purchase orders within required lead times.
• Maintain optimal inventory while minimizing spoilage and out-of-stocks.
• Forecast demand using historical trends, sales forecasts, seasonality, and market conditions.
• Develop and maintain supplier relationships while negotiating pricing, service levels, and programs.
• Resolve supplier quality, service, pricing, and delivery issues.
• Coordinate with Sales, Warehouse, Transportation, Customer Service, Operations, and Accounting.
• Maintain accurate ERP purchasing records and documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen supplier performance.
• Ability to balance tasks and workload and continuously reassess priorities in a fluid, fast-paced environment.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• 98.0% minimum Fill Rate.
• Product Spoilage maintained at or below 0.20% of Cost of Goods Sold.
• 100% Supplier Cost Recovery for supplier-caused defects, shortages, damages, and quality issues not caused by Medosweet.
• Timely and accurate purchase order placement.
• Proactive communication of inventory and supply risks.

Professional Expectations

• Demonstrate ownership and accountability for assigned categories.
• Communicate potential issues before they impact customers or operations.
• Present solutions, not simply problems.
• Consistently meet deadlines and follow through on commitments.
• Work collaboratively as a team player across all departments.
• Maintain professional relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum three (3) years of food service procurement experience with fresh, chilled, frozen, and/or perishable food products.
• Experience in supplier management, inventory planning, and purchasing.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel and ERP system experience.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, or related field.
• Dairy, refrigerated food, or commodity purchasing experience.
• Professional purchasing or supply chain certification (CPSM, CSCP, APICS) preferred.

Physical & Work Environment

• Monday-Friday onsite position.
• Frequent interaction with refrigerated and frozen warehouse environments.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
• May require extended hours during supply disruptions or business needs.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Sick Leave
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Profit Sharing
• Six Paid Holidays annually