Purchasing Clerk (Buyer)

Job Title:  Purchasing Clerk (Buyer) 
Job Location:  Seattle-USA-98188 
Work Location Type:  On-Site 
Salary Range:  $23.00 - 27.00 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 Clerk (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

• Work in collaboration with the Customer Service Centers and other corporate disciplines to determine current and future sourcing needs, coordinate the best method for fulfilling those needs and monitor ongoing effectiveness
• Ensure that vendor performance issues are addressed quickly and should problems continue, provide analysis of alternatives, making changes when appropriate
• Identify, assess, and pursue supplier development opportunities based on the expected impact/benefits to SkyChefs
• Work with Program Management departments to ensure proper items are sourced, and what is being sourced is within the specifications and price parameters of the customer
• Drive performance that results in year over year cost reductions through the standardization of products and pursuit of best possible commodity/service costs
• Identify and onboard vendors who meet the required SkyChefs qualifications
• Use knowledge of available products, vendor capabilities, and industry innovation to guide customers towards standardized products
• Model corporate values and participate as required in groups
• Proactively support other departments and functions as the Procurement specialist
• Display fiscal responsibility in the pursuit of best cost procurement for the organization
• Regularly exhibits the ability to solve problems and drive issue to closure with appropriate supervision
• Open availability, weekends, and holidays as operations require

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• One to three years purchasing/buying or related field experience required 
• Bachelor’s degree in Purchasing/Supply Chain management preferred
• Working knowledge of SAP preferred
• Ability to multi-task and solve problems in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to effectively work in teams and with customers
• Strong analytical skills for evaluating data
• Must have a valid current driver’s license 

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