Associate Buyer

Wells Enterprises; Le Mars (IA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Annual incentive bonus

Job summary

Wells Enterprises, a Ferrero Company, is seeking an Associate Buyer for the Supply Chain & Purchasing function. You will help negotiate contracts, manage supplier relationships, and optimize total cost of ownership across assigned categories.

Under guidance from the Senior Sourcing Manager, you will develop and implement processes, ensure compliance with company policies, and collaborate with internal customers to streamline purchasing activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Purchasing preferred and/or an equivalent of 2 years procurement experience.
• Minimum of 2 years’ full-time professional experience in a purchasing environment.
• Knowledge of purchasing and supply chain; strong written and oral communication; negotiation skills.
• Ability to negotiate effectively; strong problem solving, quantitative skills, attention to detail, and decision-making talent.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate, create and execute contracts with suppliers via RFP/bid processes within spend authority guidelines.
• Identify and implement processes to streamline internal/external workflows.
• Manage total cost of ownership through data analysis, problem solving and execution.
• Maintain day-to-day supplier and internal customer relations including demand/volume/delivery changes and issues.
• Assist Accounts Payable in invoice reconciliation and related coaching of departments.
• Oversee MROP item requests in NIR system, review databases for duplication, maintain purchasing data and supplier recommendations.
• Develop sourcing strategies aligned with Wells’ broader organization and ensure compliance with policies.
• Build knowledge of suppliers' capabilities and core competencies.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Quantitative skills

Attention to detail

Decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Purchasing

2 years procurement experience

Job description

Company

Wells Enterprises (a Ferrero Company)

Functional Area

Supply Chain & Purchasing

The Role

With guidance and oversight, the Associate Buyer is responsible for strategically and tactically managing supplier relationships, negotiating with suppliers and executing agreements for assigned categories while identifying and developing suppliers that meet and/or exceed Wells’ expectations regarding total cost of ownership including but not limited to cost, delivery, quality, innovation and continuous improvement. This position will optimize synergies with vendors and internal customers.

What You’ll Do

• With guidance from the Sr. Sourcing Manager, the Associate Buyer is responsible for negotiating, creating and executing contracts with suppliers through formal and informal RFP and/or bidding processes, in alignment with spend authority guidelines.
• Identify, modify and/or develop and implement processes or process enrichments that streamline or improve internal or external workflow and align with company policies.
• Responsible for managing the Total Cost of Ownership by collecting data, analyzing, problem solving, recommending, communicating and executing accordingly.
• Managing the day-to-day business relationship with key suppliers and internal customers through supporting activities including ordering, communication of demand/volume/delivery time changes, issue resolution, sharing end-user feedback, and follow up on back orders etc.
• Assist Accounts Payable Department in the reconciliation of invoices. Engage and coach originating departments accordingly.
• Oversee and approve MROP part number requests through the New Item Request (NIR) system. Review all databases and cross check for duplication. Maintain purchasing data (i.e. lead times, payment terms and pricing) and recommended supplier on each item while ensuring commodity performance.
• Develop strategic sourcing strategies for categories and items responsible for – align sourcing strategies with broader Wells organization.
• Responsible for knowledge of and compliance with applicable corporate policies and procedures and Code of Conduct.
• Develop a strong understanding and knowledge of suppliers and their capabilities, core competencies, strengths and weaknesses.

#IND123

Qualifications

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Purchasing preferred and/or an equivalent of 2 years procurement experience.
• Minimum of 2 years’ full-time professional experience in a purchasing environment.
• Knowledge of purchasing and supply chain. Good effective communication skills (both oral and written) and presentation skills.
• Ability to effectively negotiate. Problem Solving, quantitative skills, attention to detail and decision-making talent.
• Must be able to work across all functions and levels of an organization. Proven project management skills and demonstrable process implementation ability
• Reports to: Sr. Sourcing Manager
• Direct Reports: N/A
• Indirect Reports: N/A

Wells Enterprises is an EEO/AA employer M/F/Vet/Dis

About Us

Wells Enterprises, a Ferrero company, is one of the largest ice cream manufacturers in the United States and the maker of well-loved brands including Blue Bunny, Halo Top, Bomb Pop, and Blue Ribbon Classics and today Trolli, Butterfinger 100grand, Baby Ruth, Nutella and Kinder Bueno.

Wells Enterprises is a $2 billion company employing 4,000 employees, across four production plants and two main hub locations, Chicago and Le Mars. Guided by innovation, quality, and a people-first mindset, Wells is committed to delighting consumers and developing exceptional teams.

As part of the Ferrero Group, Wells combines its strong U.S. heritage with Ferrero’s global standards of excellence, offering a unique opportunity to grow within a dynamic, values-driven, and international environment.

At Wells, our people—and their experience—sit at the heart of our ambition. Learn more at www.wellsenterprisesinc.com.

What We Offer

At Wells, we’re proud to support our employees with comprehensive benefits that enhance health, financial wellness, and include paid time off (PTO). Eligible employees may also receive an annual incentive bonus based on Company performance. Learn more about our benefits here.