Purchasing Assistant

Job Title:  Purchasing Assistant 
Job Location:  San Francisco-USA-94128 
Work Location Type:  On-Site 
Salary Range:  $26.00 - 32.00 per hour 

About us

Since 1942, SkyChefs has taken culinary excellence to new heights. As a trusted partner to the nation’s leading airlines and retailers, we proudly deliver millions of meals and exceptional service experiences every year across 43 sites throughout the United States. Built on a legacy of operational excellence, culinary expertise, and continuous innovation, we are committed to setting the industry standard in aviation culinary, airline services, last-mile logistics, and retail commerce. From the kitchen to the runway, our teams work together to deliver quality, reliability, and service at every altitude. Our people are the heart of everything we do. At SkyChefs, a career is more than a job – it’s an opportunity to grow, lead, and make an impact in a fast-paced, team-driven environment. Join America’s first, foremost, and finest and take your career to new heights.

Role Purpose Statement

The Purchasing Assistant (Buyer) plays a vital role in supporting an efficient and reliable supply chain by sourcing, purchasing, and managing assigned categories of goods and services. This position is responsible for developing and maintaining strong supplier relationships while ensuring the timely availability of products needed to support daily operations.

Key responsibilities include procuring produce, frozen foods, and other food-related commodities, monitoring inventory levels, and managing expired or obsolete inventory to minimize waste, control costs, and maximize operational efficiency.

Working closely with internal stakeholders, vendors, and Customer Service Center teams, the Buyer helps drive supply chain performance by ensuring product availability, maintaining cost-effective purchasing practices, and supporting the delivery of exceptional service to both internal and external customers. Success in this role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, sound decision-making, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Main Accountabilities

• Conduct market research on products, suppliers, and pricing to identify sources that meet customer specifications, quality standards, and business requirements.
• Monitor product costs and market trends, proactively recommending solutions to mitigate the impact of price fluctuations.
• Strategically source food ingredients and products to achieve the optimal balance of cost, quality, and availability while meeting customer and Retail Sales requirements.
• Coordinate purchasing activities with vendors, including pricing updates, order cancellations, discontinued items, approved substitutions, backorders, delivery schedule changes, and invoice discrepancy resolution.
• Prepare, analyze, and maintain ingredient costing throughout the menu development process, incorporating supplier cost revisions as needed.
• Leverage knowledge of product availability, supplier capabilities, and industry innovations to recommend standardized products and value-driven solutions to customers.
• Support customer projects by ensuring purchases align with negotiated pricing agreements and established sourcing strategies.
• Assist with menu presentation preparation, including ordering product samples, confirming receipt, and collaborating with Category Managers to validate ingredient and packaging costs.
• Partner with Program Management and Pricing teams to ensure sourced products meet customer specifications and program requirements.
• Establish and maintain new product records within distribution and internal LSG systems.
• Collaborate with Customer Service Centers (CSC) to minimize dead stock inventory through resale opportunities, inventory transfers, or salvage solutions.
• Negotiate supplier agreements, evaluate vendor quotations, and ensure competitive pricing and product specifications through strategic sourcing and supplier benchmarking.
• Support Quality Assurance initiatives by collecting and maintaining product specifications, nutritional information, and related documentation.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Customer satisfaction and responsiveness
• On-time and within-budget completion of sourcing and customer projects
• Product cost optimization and savings achievement
• Supplier performance and service levels
• Inventory management and reduction of excess/dead stock
• Process efficiency and continuous improvement initiatives
• Compliance with customer specifications, quality standards, and purchasing policies

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

1 to 3 years of purchasing, procurement, supply chain, or related experience required
Working knowledge of SAP preferred
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal stakeholders and business partners
Proven ability to collaborate successfully in a team-oriented environment
Strong multitasking, prioritization, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced setting
Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and support informed business decisions
Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the organization
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including advanced skills in Excel, as well as Word and PowerPoint
Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and a commitment to accuracy
Ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting deadlines and maintaining high-quality work standards

SkyChefs is an EEO and Affirmative Action Employer of Women/Minorities/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.