BUYER

Joseph Farms; Atwater (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) retirement plan w/ company match

Health Insurance

Dental

Vision

Educational Reimbursement

Paid time off

Free cheese!

Job summary

Joseph Farms in Atwater, California, is seeking a Buyer to handle procurement for the production and maintenance departments. In this role, you will be responsible for sourcing ingredients and maintaining vendor relationships to ensure timely order fulfillment.

The ideal candidate will have at least 4 years of purchasing experience in the agricultural or food industry, strong negotiation skills, and a commitment to food safety standards. Competitive salary and benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 years related experience in a Purchasing role.
• Experience in agricultural/consumer products manufacturing.
• Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Source and place all orders to maintain production.
• Meet with vendors to assess products and negotiate prices.
• Resolve payment discrepancies promptly.
• Manage the full purchase order lifecycle.

Skills

Purchasing & negotiating skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Knowledge of MRP systems

Microsoft Office proficiency

Tools

Microsoft Navision

Microsoft Office

Job description

Benefits

• 401(k) retirement plan w/ company match
• Health Insurance
• Dental
• Vision
• Educational Reimbursement
• Paid time off (vacation, sick, holidays, etc.)
• Free cheese!

Summary of Functions

The Buyer will be responsible for day-to-day recurring purchases for the Procurement Department supporting production and maintenance departments, sourcing all ingredients and MRO items. This position will be relied upon as a major contributor to achieving departmental goals through developing and building strategies for the vendors of all direct materials.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Source and place all orders in a timely manner to ensure no interruption to production.
• Meet with suitable vendors to assess their products, inquire about their services, negotiate pricing, and communicate any product or service-related concerns.
• Conduct research on available vendors to determine which vendors offer the best pricing and product quality.
• Outline and develop opportunities for cost savings including developing RFPs as required
• In conjunction with Quality Assurance, undertake regular vendor audits, as required
• Resolve all payment discrepancies promptly
• Assist in managing the accuracy & reliability of the Navision MRP system database Adhere to pre-determined corporate policies & procedures relating to procurement.
• Manage the full purchase order (PO) lifecycle from creation and placement through supplier acknowledgment, order confirmation, delivery tracking against expected dates, and final receipt and closure; proactively resolve discrepancies, delays, and invoicing issues to ensure on-time, accurate order fulfillment.
• Lead vendor onboarding in compliance with Safe Quality Food Institute (SQF) requirements, including supplier approval, risk assessments, documentation collection (e.g., certifications, COAs, insurance), and coordination with QA to ensure all food safety and regulatory standards are met prior to first purchase.

Food Safety Requirements/Responsibilities

• Comply with all Plant, State and Federal OSHA, EPA, FDA, HACCP, and SQF regulations.
• Comply with GMPs in the plant.
• Assist in the implementation of Food Safety and Quality Assurance.

Organizational Relationships

Position reports to Purchasing Management. Position has no direct reports

Qualifications

• Purchasing professional who is detail-oriented & accurate, with strong proven purchasing & negotiating skills (Minimum of 4 years related experience in progressively responsible Purchasing role)
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build strong relationships at all levels, with the confidence to be engaging with vendors as well as management and line workers
• Minimum of 3 years experience in the agricultural and/or consumer products manufacturing (especially Food/Beverage) industries
• Highest level of professionalism and integrity, with the ability to handle and manage confidential information
• Highly effective communicator, both written and verbal, with the ability to clearly and concisely articulate ideas and concepts
• Experience and appreciation of a culturally diverse workforce
• Knowledge of Microsoft Navision system &/or other MRP systems is a plus
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Experience in strategic planning and execution, including analyzing and improving existing operations and procedures, formulating policies, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.
• Creative, abstract thinker/problem-solver

Physical Demands

Office environment, as well as production environment. Occasionally may lift or carry up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment

Indoor primarily with some outdoor activity. Typically, quiet in the office while noisy on the production floor.

This description is a general statement and does not include other duties as assigned.

Joseph Gallo Farms is an Equal Opportunity Employer / EEO