PURCHASING SPECIALIST

Founded in 1964, Kari-Out Company prides itself on being built from the ground floor with an entrepreneurial spirit and a dedication to excellence in the growing food service industry. After gaining a strong position in our condiment lines, the company has expanded to include virtually all areas of the food service market.

Today, Kari-Out employs over 500 team members with locations throughout the United States. We are proud recipients of the American Institute of Bakers (AIB) highest standard of quality rating — Superior — in recognition of our exceptional manufacturing processes. As we continue to grow, our commitment to quality products, strong supplier partnerships, and outstanding customer service remains the foundation of our success.

As we continue to move into the future, Kari-Out Company remains confident that our strong team, high-quality products, solid supplier partnerships, and commitment to our customers will ensure continued success. We are seeking to grow our organization with a dedicated Purchasing Specialist to join our team in Totowa, New Jersey, who shares our values of teamwork, integrity, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for assuring timely availability of raw materials for production and continuously monitoring the usage and inventory levels
• Prepares purchase orders by verifying specifications and price; obtaining recommendations from suppliers for substitute items; obtaining approval from requisitioning department
• Obtains purchased items by forwarding orders to suppliers; monitoring and expediting orders
• Verifies receipt of items by comparing items received to items ordered; resolves shipments in error with suppliers and updates delivery dates on delayed shipments
• Collaborate with Supply chain manager and Production Planner to meet monthly targets and outline delays and solutions
• Lead communication and escalation of supply risks and constraints to leadership and production planner
• Provides purchasing planning and control information by collecting, analyzing and summarizing data and trends
• Collaborate with other department leads to reach a full end-to-end supply chain cycle (e.g. Sales, Production, Logistics, Quality, etc.)
• Accomplishes purchasing and organization mission by completing related results as needed
• Assist with month-end inventory counts
• Knowledge and understanding of MRP system migration

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree and 3 years' work experience in purchasing or procurement
• Advanced skills in Excel
• Proven experience in purchasing or procurement within a manufacturing or supply chain environment.
• Strong understanding of purchase order processing, vendor agreements, and supply chain principles.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Microsoft Office Suite (Excel)
• Must be comfortable walking the production and warehouse regularly
• Must be organized and detail-oriented

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certification in Supply Chain Management (e.g., CPSM, CSCP) is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with sales order processing and advanced materials control techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze procurement data to identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Experience in vendor relationship management and strategic sourcing.

Skills:

The Purchasing Specialist will apply their expertise in purchase orders and supply chain management daily to ensure seamless procurement operations. Proficiency with procurement software enables efficient tracking and management of sales orders and quotations, facilitating timely decision-making. Strong negotiation skills are essential for establishing and maintaining vendor agreements that benefit the organization financially and operationally. Knowledge of materials management and material control ensures inventory levels are optimized, preventing production delays or excess stock. Additionally, the ability to analyze supply chain data supports continuous improvement initiatives and strategic sourcing efforts.