Buyer

Job Summary:

The Buyer at Viscofan will be responsible for sourcing and purchasing raw materials, packaging, and other essential supplies required for the manufacturing of casings and other products. This position requires a strategic and analytical mindset to manage supplier relationships, ensure timely delivery of high-quality materials, and achieve cost savings through negotiation and supply chain optimization.

What You'll Do:

Procurement

• Procurement Strategy: Develop and implement sourcing strategies for raw materials, packaging, and indirect goods, ensuring alignment with Viscofan's overall supply chain objectives.
• Supplier Management: Identify, evaluate, and manage relationships with suppliers. Continuously monitor performance, negotiate contracts, and ensure the best possible pricing, quality, and delivery terms.
• Negotiation: Lead negotiations with suppliers on pricing, contract terms, and delivery schedules to ensure cost efficiency and mitigate risk in the supply chain.
• Vendor Management: Lead vendor management and contract negotiation for service providers, negotiating pricing, service-level agreements (SLAs), and renewal terms to optimize cost, performance, and compliance with organizational requirements.
• Vendor-Managed Inventory (VMI): Manage VMI programs, collaborating with suppliers to monitor demand, establish min/max levels, and ensure timely replenishment while reducing inventory carrying costs and preventing stockouts.
• Inventory Management: Collaborate with the inventory and production planning teams to ensure optimal stock levels and avoid shortages or excess inventory.
• Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure that all purchases comply with company policies, industry standards, and regulatory requirements. Manage supplier risks by diversifying supply sources and mitigating disruptions.
• Cost Reduction Initiatives: Identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements in the purchasing function, driving initiatives to reduce procurement costs without compromising quality.
• Data Analysis: Leverage SAP, and Excel to analyze procurement spend, VMI inventory levels, supplier performance, and demand trends, transforming data into actionable insights that improve forecasting accuracy, optimize replenishment, support data-driven cost optimization, and strengthen supply reliability.
• Reporting: Monitor and prepare regular reports on key procurement metrics.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with internal stakeholders, including production, maintenance, engineering, and R&D teams, to ensure timely availability of materials for manufacturing projects.
• Sustainability & Innovation: Participate in sustainability initiatives by sourcing eco-friendly materials and exploring innovative procurement practices that align with Viscofan's environmental goals

Purchasing

• Post and maintain manual inventory adjustments in SAP accurately and in accordance with established controls.
• Partner with the Inventory Specialist to perform initial comparisons of physical inventory counts against SAP records; coordinate recounts and investigations to resolve variances.
• Monitor and clear COGI errors in SAP by applying knowledge of purchased materials, approved substitutions, and alignment with planning and production requirements.
• Track purchase orders past the delivery due date and proactively follow up with warehouse and receiving teams to ensure timely goods receipt posting.
• Identify, resolve, and escalate issues that delay or prevent accurate goods receipt, ensuring inventory and financial accuracy.
• Conduct ongoing follow-up with requisitioners on purchase orders, including communication of open POs, pending goods receipts, and required delivery date updates.
• Monitor purchase order status and coordinate with internal departments to resolve issues related to delayed receipts, incomplete goods receipt postings, or changes in delivery schedules.
• Provide visibility and accurate reporting on outstanding purchasing activity to support inventory accuracy, financial planning, and operational continuity.
• Collaborate with Finance and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure budgeted pricing reflects supplier agreements, market conditions, and operational forecasts.

What we need from you:

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, or a related field. Master's degree or professional certifications (such as CPM or CSCP) are a plus.
• Experience: 5+ years of procurement experience in a manufacturing or preferably in food processing environment, with a focus on raw materials, packaging, or indirect goods.
• Use of MS Office and Excel (Minimum knowledge for sending emails and designing worksheets)
• SAP knowledge preferred.
• VMI Experience
• Understanding of FIFO inventory strategy.
• 5+ years' experience in Logistics/Supply Chain or related fields.
• Results-oriented and proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to analyze market trends and data.
• Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with competing priorities.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements:

• May be required to be in a variety of environments internally and must follow all safety regulations and wear all proper safety equipment.

What we offer:

• Medical, Dental, Optical insurance
• 401(k)
• Life Insurance (AD&D)
• Short term & Long term disability
• Gym Reimbursement

At Viscofan, we are a multicultural, highly skilled, and continually evolving team united by strong values and shared ethical principles. No matter our backgrounds, we are committed to providing stable, high-quality employment and creating workplaces where employees can grow, contribute, and reach their full potential. We are an equal opportunity employer.