Purchasing Buyer, Senior

Senior Buyer
At Starbird Chicken, we're redefining what fast casual food can be serving fresh, crave-worthy food in a welcoming, community-driven environment. We believe in bold flavors, genuine hospitality, innovation, and doing right by our people and guests. As the Senior Buyer, you are a key driver of Starbird's growing supply chain function. You own the daily execution that keeps our restaurants running: ensuring product availability, managing supplier and distributor performance, controlling costs, and supporting operational continuity across the business.
You report directly to the CFO and work closely with Starbird's Supply Chain Consultant, Operations, Culinary, Finance, Marketing, and supplier and distribution partners. You will drive execution against company priorities while supporting growth, new restaurant openings, and ongoing cost management.
This role is ideal for a supply chain professional who enjoys balancing supplier relationship management, purchasing, project coordination, analytics, and cross-functional communication in a fast-paced restaurant environment.
A highly organized, proactive, and analytical supply chain professional
Comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
An effective communicator who can clearly translate data and updates to stakeholders
Collaborative and energized by working cross-functionally with Operations, Culinary, Finance, Marketing, and Development
Purchasing & Supply Chain Execution
Manage the daily purchasing and supply chain rhythm for Starbird
Resolve supply chain issues impacting restaurant operations
Support inventory planning and replenishment
Supplier & Distributor Management
Manage supplier and distributor relationships
Negotiate pricing and resolve service issues and quality concerns
Monitor supplier and distributor KPIs, including fill rates, lead times, and service levels
Escalate significant risks and opportunities to supply chain leadership
Monitor purchasing trends and identify cost-saving opportunities
Track and report key supply chain metrics
Assist with budget planning and cost forecasting
Support invoice, pricing, rebate, and contract verification as needed
Assist with sourcing projects across food, beverage, packaging, smallwares, and indirect spend categories
New Restaurant Openings (NROs)
Support supply chain execution for new restaurant openings
Track supply chain milestones and follow-up activities related to openings
Cross-Functional Partnership
Collaborate closely with Operations, Culinary, Finance, Training, Marketing, and Development teams
Communicate supply chain updates and issue resolution status to stakeholders
Support implementation of process improvements across the supply chain function
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, Finance, or related field (or equivalent experience)
35+ years of procurement experience
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel
Experience in multi-unit restaurant, foodservice, hospitality, retail, or consumer goods
Experience working with food manufacturers and broadline distributors
Understanding of inventory management and demand planning principles
Experience supporting new product launches or new restaurant openings