Buyer II

Purpose of the Role:

The Buyer II is a mid-level procurement role responsible for purchasing materials, maintaining supplier communication, and supporting cost and inventory management. This role manages day-to-day purchasing activities, tracks deliveries, assists in cost analysis, and contributes to supplier performance improvement. The Buyer II partners closely with Planning, Production, QA, and Finance to ensure materials arrive on time and issues are resolved promptly while supporting operational stability and procurement process improvements.

Key Responsibilities:

Purchasing & Order Management

• Execute purchase orders for assigned materials with accuracy and timeliness.
• Track order status, follow up on late deliveries, and resolve order discrepancies.
• Maintain system data for pricing, lead times, and supplier information.
• Support the onboarding of new materials or packaging changes.

Supplier Coordination

• Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for assigned suppliers.
• Monitor supplier delivery performance (OTIF) and escalate risks as needed.
• Participate in supplier calls to review open orders, delays, and corrective actions.
• Support the onboarding of new materials or packaging changes.

Inventory & Planning Support

• Work with Production Planning to ensure materials meet required inventory levels.
• Review demand, lead times, and safety stock to anticipate supply gaps.
• Support shortage reporting, root-cause checks, and recovery follow-ups.

Cost & Data Analysis

• Assist with supplier quotes and cost comparisons for sourcing decisions.
• Support basic cost analyses, market checks, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Prepare purchasing reports, usage summaries, and supplier dashboards.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate with QA and R&D for sample testing, spec updates, or supplier documentation.
• Support Finance in resolving invoice pricing discrepancies and PO reconciliation.
• Collaborate on packaging revisions, engineering changes, or new product needs.

Process & System Improvement

• Identify inefficiencies and propose ideas to improve procurement workflow.
• Maintain accurate ERP purchasing data and support system cleanup.
• Contribute to standardising procurement documentation and procedures.

Core Skills

• Solutions Focused: Proactively identify challenges in the procurement process and develop effective solutions. Encourage a problem-solving mindset within the team.
• Problem Solving & Decision Making: Uses data and logical thinking to resolve supply issues.
• Communication: Keeps suppliers and internal partners updated in a timely way.
• Collaboration: Works well with cross-functional teams.
• Ownership: Takes responsibility for tasks and follows through reliably.
• Continuous Improvement Mindset: Looks for ways to simplify and enhance processes.

Requirements:

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Professional Experience: 2–4 years of purchasing or supply chain experience.
• Strategic Procurement Skills: Strong experience in negotiations and supplier management.
• Financial Acumen: Solid understanding of budgeting, cost management, and financial analysis as they relate to outsourcing manufacturing processes.
• Leadership Qualities: Strong sense of ownership, follow-through, and urgency.
• Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: Comfortable analyzing data and building insights to support decisions.
• Technology Proficiency: Comfortable working with data, Excel, and basic reporting. Experience working with ERP systems (Sage X3, SAP, Oracle, or similar).
• Communication Skills: Clear and professional communication skills.
• Adaptability and Flexibility: Ability to adapt to changing market conditions and organizational needs. Willingness to travel as required for the role. Knowledge of global trade regulations and logistics’ best practices preferred.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in manufacturing, CPG, or food/beverage industry.
• Exposure to co-manufacturing or multi-site operations.
• Japanese language ability is a strong plus (written and/or verbal).
APICS (CPIM/CSCP) or ISM certification helpful but not required.

Physical Requirements:

The Buyer II may be required to perform the following physical tasks:

• Standing and walking for extended periods while overseeing distribution activities.
• Occasional lifting and moving of inventory or supplies, which could include lifting boxes or packages weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Reaching, bending, and stooping to access and inspect items in storage or during the packing process.
• Operating office equipment and computer systems, including keyboards and monitors.
• Frequent travel to meet suppliers, attend industry events, and visit company sites to oversee procurement operations. Ability to adapt to different environments and maintain productivity while traveling.

Note: The above physical requirements are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The annual pay range for this full-time position is $75,000 - $85,000. Our pay ranges are guided by the discipline, level, and experience required. Within the range, individual pay may vary based on additional factors, including your specific location, desired skills/ technical competency, relevant experience, and advanced education/ training. Benefits include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, LTD, EAP, Health & Wellness, Vacation Accrual, and 401(k) with Safe Harbor Contribution. In addition, we offer our employees discounts on our product, tuition reimbursement, continuing education support, and more!