Regional Purchasing Manager

Gold Star Foods; Ontario; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food distributor is seeking a Regional Purchasing Manager to oversee procurement strategies and lead a team of Buyers. The role involves collaborating with Sales and improving efficiency in procurement operations while ensuring customer satisfaction. Ideal candidates have strong analytical skills, leadership experience, and a background in purchasing within the food industry.

Qualifications

• 5-10 years of purchasing experience in the food industry.
• Minimum of 3 years in a Buyer role.

Responsibilities

• Leads and manages a team of Buyers to ensure effective procurement.
• Drives performance measurement and continuous improvement in purchasing operations.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Analytical Skills

Problem Solving

Communication Skills

Leadership

Multitasking

Education

High School diploma

Bachelor’s Degree in Purchasing or Supply Chain

Job description

TITLE: Regional Purchasing Manager

DIVISION : Purchasing

REPORTS TO: Vice President of Merchandising

FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Exempt / Salary

Gold Star Foods is the leading food distributor to K-12 schools in the United States. We are a company devoted to providing our customers with incredible customer service. We know that it is our employees who make the difference! Join our team and find out what it is like to work somewhere where you enjoy getting up for work every day!

Position Overview

The Purchasing Manager, reporting to the Vice President of Merchandising, is responsible for the strategic oversight and management of the procurement function. This role includes supervising and guiding assigned Buyers, ensuring performance aligns with company goals, and driving continuous improvement across purchasing operations. The Purchasing Manager will collaborate closely with Sales and cross-functional leadership to support company initiatives and ensure procurement strategies meet organizational needs. A key focus of the role is to monitor, measure, and enhance the effectiveness of the buying team, ensuring achievement of defined benchmarks and objectives.

Principle Responsibilities

• Leads the assigned team of Buyers and directs staff in executing procurement strategies. Responsible for managing, motivating, and developing the team, with a key focus on customer order fulfillment.
• Oversee all aspects of Buyers management, including hiring, performance evaluation, coaching, and professional development. Aligns team objectives with Stellar Service standards throughout the order fulfillment process.
• Establishes and delivers a structured training curriculum to ensure continuous education and skills enhancement for the Buyer team.
• Drives, monitors, and measures key performance indicators such as fill rates, aged inventory, and other inventory management metrics. Actively seeks opportunities to improve customer satisfaction.
• Monitors and analyzes inventory trends and provides guidance to Buyers to capitalize on cost saving opportunities while balancing customer requirements and expectations and providing for complete customer satisfaction.
• Accountable for communicating and being a proactive liaison among the buying teams, the DC teams and the sales teams regarding all aspects of procurement activities and processes.
• Ensures consistency and clarity across functions. Takes ownership of identifying and resolving internal operational challenges.
• Conducts supplier evaluations, communicates findings, and collaborates with vendors to enhance performance. Manages tracking, reporting, and issue resolution related to supplier non-conformance and service levels.
• Liaison between Information Systems Department, Demand Planning, Buyers to optimize database integrity and system functionality.
• Collaborate with Sales and Operation to align procurement with demand forecasts and business cycles.
• Promotes a culture of urgency and innovation in addressing problems and achieving results efficiently.
• Communicate a strong sense of urgency in creative problem solving and getting work done.
• Ensuring time, resources and action of the Sales Team is focused on priorities that contribute to meeting customer needs and business goals and objectives.
• Fosters a result-oriented environment that recognizes and rewards initiative, drive, and achievement.
  
  

Required Skills

• Advanced Excel (Formatting, Formulas (VLOOKUP), Pivot Tables, etc.)
• Strong multitasking ability in a fast-paced environment, with a focus on timely and accurate task completion. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, ability to make sound decisions.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound, data-driven decisions
• Effective communication and organizational skills, both written and verbal.
• Proven team building and leadership abilities, with a focus on collaboration, development, and motivation of team members.
• Flexibility to work extended hours and travel, as required.
• Self-motivated and goal-oriented, with a demonstrated ability to meet or exceed objectives independently.
  
  

Education/Expierence

• High School diploma required.
• Bachelor’s Degree with emphasis in purchasing, material management, supply chain or related field preferred but not required
• 5-10 years of purchasing experience, with a minimum of 3 years in a Buyer role, within the food industry or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  
  

Working Conditions And Physical Demands

Professional office environment. Primary office environment is ambient room temperatures, lighting and traditional office equipment as found in a typical office environment.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Individuals may need to sit or stand as needed. May require walking primarily on a level surface for periods throughout the day. Reaching above shoulder heights, below the waist, or lifting as required to file documents or store materials throughout the workday. Proper lifting techniques are required. May include lifting up to 25 pounds on occasion.

EOE M/W/Vet/Disabled

The above duties and responsibilities are essential job functions subject to reasonable accommodation. All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills and/or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements as the employee may be required to perform any other duties as assigned. In the event of an absence where the Buyer cannot perform these duties, the Manager will determine who shall perform these duties.

Affirmative Action Statement

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer, and consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law.