3500 Buyer

Mt. Olive Pickle Company, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Mt. Olive Pickle Company, Inc. is seeking a full-time Purchasing professional to procure packaging materials, spices, and ingredients to meet production demand.

The role emphasizes cost optimization, supplier evaluation, and inventory planning to maximize cash flow while supporting production schedules. The ideal candidate will have a supply chain degree, strong math and analytical skills, and experience with purchasing systems.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in Supply Chain Management or related subject required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong business math skills; ability to analyze data.
• Ability to use computerized purchasing systems and interpret financial reports.
• Must read/write English.

Responsibilities

• Procure packaging components, spices, ingredients, and other materials at best overall cost.
• Prepare and issue purchase orders, place orders with approved vendors, and maintain purchasing records.
• Obtain and compare supplier quotations, evaluating price, volume, freight, and other costs.
• Develop purchasing recommendations for the Director of Purchasing based on cost, demand, and supplier considerations.
• Recommend order quantities balancing pricing opportunities, volume, and consumption.
• Maintain min/max inventory levels using production schedules and EOQ.
• Coordinate timely ordering to support production and prevent interruptions.
• Monitor order status and expedite shipments when necessary.
• Establish supplier contact records and maintain supplier performance evaluation process.
• Communicate with vendors and internal stakeholders to resolve purchasing and delivery issues.
• Maintain material catalogs and SQF documentation; ensure compliance and traceability.

Skills

Supply chain degree

Communication skills

Business math

Purchasing systems

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management or related field

Tools

Purchasing software/ERP

Job description

Job Type

Full-time

Description

Purchases component materials to meet both short-term and long-term production demand. Implements Min / Max, EOQ and other proven purchasing methods to ensure optimization of component cost through best price and volume mix. Maintains adequate levels of component materials inventory to meet production demands while maximizing cash flow.

Duties and Responsibilities

Procurement and Cost Management

• Procure packaging components, spices, ingredients, and other required materials at the best overall cost to the company.
• Prepare and issue purchase orders, place orders with approved vendors, and maintain accurate purchasing records.
• Obtain and compare multiple supplier quotations, evaluating unit price, purchase volume, freight, and other relevant costs.
• Develop purchasing recommendations for the Director of Purchasing based on cost, demand, and supplier considerations.
• Recommend order quantities that balance pricing opportunities, volume requirements, and anticipated consumption.

Inventory Planning and Production Support

• Recommend and maintain appropriate minimum and maximum inventory levels using production schedules, demand requirements, and Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) principles.
• Coordinate timely ordering of components, spices, and ingredients to support production schedules and prevent operational interruptions.
• Monitor order status and proactively follow up with suppliers to confirm delivery dates and expedite shipments when necessary.

Supplier Management and Performance

• Establish and maintain supplier contact records, including locations, key contacts, shipping hours, and emergency numbers to support business continuity and disaster recovery.
• Develop and maintain a supplier performance evaluation process to assess delivery, quality, responsiveness, and service.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with vendors, customer service representatives, and internal stakeholders to resolve purchasing and delivery issues.

Quality, Documentation, and Compliance

• Maintain material catalogs and supporting documentation, including specifications, drawings, and photographs, in accordance with Safe Quality Food (SQF) requirements.
• Act as the liaison between company representatives and suppliers to communicate, investigate, and resolve nonconforming material issues.
• Support corrective actions and follow-up activities to help ensure materials meet established quality and operational requirements.

Cross-Functional Coordination and Other Duties

• Work closely with the Director of Purchasing and Production Planning Department to coordinate purchasing activities with production needs and departmental priorities.
• Carry out assigned responsibilities in accordance with written and verbal instructions.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Undergraduate degree in Supply Chain Management or related subject required. Must have good written and verbal communication skills, strong personal computer skills and solid business math skills. Must have ability to understand computerized purchasing systems and how these system transactions affect financial reports. Must speak, read and write English.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None

Machines, Equipment, Tools Used

Personal computer, standard office equipment, two-way radio, own or company vehicle.

Physical Demands

• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sound.
• Repetitive Motions: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands and/or fingers.
• Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform and activity such as: preparing and analyzing data figures, transcribing; viewing a computer terminal.

Work Environment

Regular office conditions. Long hours and work weeks required during intake season. Access to CONFIDENTIAL DATA including confidential records, planning information, inventory and sales records, and production reports.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the position. All employees may have other duties assigned at any time.