Buyer

SUMMARY: Responsible for purchasing and assisting in the planning of materials, supplies and services through analysis of purchase requests, preparing and issuing quote requests and reviewing quotations as well as facilitating communication on all matters relating to the timely and cost-efficient flow of inventory from the vendor through to the distribution system while performing the following duties:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

Initiates, prepares and analyzes bid requests for new items and existing items as needed and assists in the selection of new vendors while meeting price and quality criteria.

Responsible for generating reports to review for minimum and maximum inventory levels to determine customer usage and inventory goals in order to monitor weekly demand forecasting with the Sales or Operations Teams for corrugated cartons and plastics.

Issues purchase orders based on sales demand and monitors orders through delivery of materials ensuring quality and service within cost guidelines and solves any issues with orders in an efficient and timely manner.

Compares daily inventory requirements on hand at VGS locations and vendors, reviews production schedules and coordinates between vendors and VGS locations to ensure that minimum inventory requirements are met by expediting order when necessary.

Resolves vendor or contractor grievances, and claims against suppliers.

Oversees or maintains that item master files for carton and bag inventory product specifications are accurate and updated in SAP as well as reviewing obsolete inventory.

Supports sales staff by running weekly and monthly inventory reports, responding to inventory inquiries or problems, providing assistance to sales staff and vendors by coordinating artwork specifications, maintaining packaging specification files to ensure they are complete and updating vendor price sheets in Excel and SAP system making sure all data is accurate and current.

Collaborates with the QER process for proper handling of quality control issues and troubleshoots discrepancies on receipts, invoices, billings and credits and reviews complaints to determine if product can be sold or scrapped.

Maintains control of orders, amendments, shipping notices and other documents and assures accurate retention of records as well as obtaining and providing food safety documents as needed by customers.

Other duties as assigned by management.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

COMPETENCIES To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

INTELLIGENCE Demonstrate ability to acquire understanding and absorb new information rapidly.

ANALYSIS SKILLS Identifies significant problems and opportunities. Analyzes problems in depth. Relates and compares data from different sources.

JUDGEMENT / DECISION MAKING Demonstrates consistent logic, rationality, and objectivity in decision making.

CREATIVITY Generates new (creative) approaches to problems or original modifications (innovations) to established approaches.

INTEGRITY Does not ethically cut corners. Remains consistent in terms of what one says and does and in terms of behavior toward others. Earns trust of coworkers, maintains confidences.

RESOURCEFULNESS Seeks out and seizes opportunities, goes beyond the “call of duty”, passionately finds ways to surmount barriers. Action-oriented; achieving results despite lack of resources.

EDUCATION Meets educations requirements, formal and informal.

ORGANIZATION / PLANNING Plans, organizes, schedules, and budgets in an efficient, productive manner. Focuses on key priorities. Effectively juggles multiple projects. Anticipates reasonable contingencies. Pays reasonable attention to detail. Manages personal time well.

ADAPTABILITY Adjusts quickly to changing priorities. Copes effectively with complexity.

CUSTOMER FOCUS Regularly monitors customer satisfaction. Meets internal and external customer needs in ways that provide satisfaction and excellent results for the customer. Establishes partner relationships and regarded as visible and accessible by internal and external customers.

TEAM PLAYER Approachable. Cooperates with supervisors and establishes collaborative relationships with peers.

COMMUNICATION Communicates effectively both oral and written. Keeps people informed. Writes clear, precise, well-organized emails, memos, letters, and proposals while using appropriate vocabulary, grammar, and word usage.

ATTENDANCE and PUNCTUALITY Demonstrates daily ability to be at work at scheduled time, including being prepared to return to work on time after breaks, meal periods and other authorized absences.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Associate’s degree from two-year college or university; or one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

COMPUTER SKILLS Accounting software; Internet software; Inventory software; Order processing systems; Spreadsheet software; Word Processing software.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ration, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS None.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES Must be detail oriented and possess the ability to perform large quantity of data entry with high level of accuracy.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS Must have a strong understanding of purchasing and accounting principles. Experience in the agriculture industry and expediting process is a plus.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. (None, Less than 1/3 - occasionally, 1/3 to 2/3 - frequently, More than 2/3 - regularly)

Frequently required to stand, walk or sit; Frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; Rarely required to climb or balance; Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; Frequently required to talk or hear; Rarely required to taste or smell.

Lifts up to 15 pounds.

Uses Close vision; Color vision; Ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. (None, Less than 1/3 - occasionally, 1/3 to 2/3 - frequently, More than 2/3 - regularly)

Not exposed to wet or humid conditions (non-weather); Occasionally exposed to work near moving mechanical parts; Not exposed to work in high, precarious places; Occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles; Occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals; Occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions; Not exposed to extreme cold (non-weather); Not exposed to extreme heat (non-weather); Occasionally exposed to risk of electrical shock; Not exposed to work with explosives; Not exposed to risk of radiation; Not exposed to vibration.

Level of Noise of the work environment is: Moderate noise