Buyer

Natural Choice Foods; Marne (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly Pay

Employee discount at Daily Deals Food

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Job summary

Natural Choice Foods is seeking a Buyer to source products, negotiate supplier agreements, and manage strategic categories that support growth and profitability. This role focuses on securing excess inventory opportunities while balancing quality, cost, and speed to market.

You will identify buying opportunities, analyze market conditions, negotiate favorable terms with suppliers, and partner with internal teams to maximize inventory performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Marketing, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 3-5+ years of purchasing, procurement, category management, buying, or supply chain experience.
• Proven success negotiating with suppliers and managing vendor relationships.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret inventory, pricing, and market data.
• Experience making strategic purchasing decisions that impact margin and inventory performance.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, ERP systems, and purchasing software.

Responsibilities

• Source products and negotiate supplier agreements to support growth and profitability.
• Manage strategic categories, monitor inventory levels and margins.
• Analyze market conditions and demand to inform purchasing decisions.
• Collaborate with Sales, Operations, Logistics, Quality, Engineering, Repack, and Finance.
• Utilize ERP and business systems to manage purchasing activity and reporting.

Skills

Procurement

Negotiation

Supplier relationship management

Analytical skills

Communication

Time management

Independent work

Travel ability

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Marketing, or related field

Tools

MS Office

ERP systems

Purchasing software

Job description

Full Time | Monday - Friday Do you thrive on sourcing opportunities, negotiating strategic deals, and building strong supplier relationships? Are you energized by balancing inventory needs, market trends, and business objectives to deliver profitable outcomes? If so, you may be a fit for our

Full Time | Monday - Friday Do you thrive on sourcing opportunities, negotiating strategic deals, and building strong supplier relationships? Are you energized by balancing inventory needs, market trends, and business objectives to deliver profitable outcomes? If so, you may be a fit for our Buyer opportunity at Natural Choice Foods.

Mission

At Natural Choice Foods, our mission is to partner with food manufacturers to recover value from excess inventory by providing access to markets that need quality food at extreme value.

Company Values

Never Settle | Be Accountable | Do the Right Thing | Win Together

Job Summary

The Buyer is an experienced procurement professional responsible for sourcing products, negotiating supplier agreements, and managing strategic categories that support company growth and profitability. This role plays a critical part in securing excess inventory opportunities, maintaining supplier relationships, and balancing quality, cost, and speed to market.

Success in this position comes from identifying buying opportunities, analyzing market conditions, negotiating favorable terms, and partnering with internal teams to maximize inventory performance. The Buyer serves as a key contributor to category strategy and helps drive business results through effective sourcing and supplier partnership management. Limited travel to suppliers, trade shows, and industry events may be required.

A Sample of the Role

Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with manufacturers, suppliers, and industry partners.
• Source products that align with company strategy while maximizing value and profitability.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, freight arrangements, and supplier agreements.
• Identify new sourcing opportunities and strategic supplier partnerships.
• Evaluate supplier performance and market competitiveness.

Category & Inventory Management

• Serve as the primary owner of assigned product categories and commodities.
• Monitor inventory levels, sell-through performance, and margin results.
• Analyze market trends, customer demand, and competitive conditions to make informed purchasing decisions.
• Partner with Sales to optimize inventory movement and pricing strategies.
• Prioritize opportunities based on profitability, risk, inventory levels, and customer demand.

Market Intelligence & Business Strategy

• Collect, analyze, and interpret market data, competitive intelligence, and commodity trends.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, reduce risk, and support company growth.
• Develop short- and long-term category strategies aligned with department objectives.
• Recommend pricing strategies and inventory plans based on market conditions.
• Stay current on industry trends through trade shows, supplier meetings, and ongoing education.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Sales, Operations, Logistics, Quality, Engineering, Repack, and Finance teams.
• Communicate inventory opportunities and risks to key stakeholders.
• Support new product initiatives and special projects.
• Utilize ERP and business systems to manage purchasing activity and reporting.
• Contribute ideas that improve buying processes and operational efficiency.

Your Natural Ingredients to Win

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Marketing, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 3-5+ years of purchasing, procurement, category management, buying, or supply chain experience.
• Proven success negotiating with suppliers and managing vendor relationships.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret inventory, pricing, and market data.
• Experience making strategic purchasing decisions that impact margin and inventory performance.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, ERP systems, and purchasing software.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to travel as needed to support supplier partnerships and business initiatives.

Benefits Of a Buyer

Start on the Date of Hire

• Weekly Pay
• Employee discount at Daily Deals Food Outlet
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays

Eligible following employment requirements

• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverages (30 days of employment)
• 401(k) with company match (6 months of employment)
• Paid Parental Leave (12 months of employment)

https://naturalchoicefoods.com/careers-2/job-openings/

NCF is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Do you need any disability-related accommodations or other considerations in the application process? Notify our Human Resources department upon submitting your application by email.