Corporate Buyer

Smithfield Foods; Smithfield (VA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Smithfield Foods is seeking a Corporate Buyer to help distribute products to customers, manage packaging, ingredients, and operating supplies, and optimize pricing, delivery, and terms. The role supports Supply & Demand Planning, Logistics, and Direct Store Delivery across facilities.

Requires a Bachelor’s Degree and 2+ years of experience, with ERP/MRP knowledge and strong negotiation and communication skills. Travel up to 20% is expected in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university and 2+ years of relevant experience.
• Strong communication skills, written and verbal.
• Familiarity with ERP or MRP systems and general business software.
• Excellent planning, organization and execution abilities.
• Demonstrated negotiation skills with suppliers and stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel up to 20% and work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Attend strategic planning meetings and contribute to business strategy.
• Make informed decisions to keep operations running smoothly.
• Oversee day-to-day needs of a product line across facilities.
• Monitor and reduce obsolete materials to maintain inventory efficiency.
• Support sourcing activities, onboard suppliers, and manage claims.
• Serve as SAP gatekeeper for ingredients and packaging; support SAP, DSP, and MRP inquiries.
• Maintain product playbooks reflecting items purchased for product lines.
• Collaborate with Marketing and R&D on new products or changes.
• Lead weekly communications; publish recaps and track action items.
• Analyze monthly inventory turns to drive plant-level improvements.
• Lead packaging projects across components and services.

Skills

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Negotiation Skills

Team Collaboration

Travel Flexibility

Workplace Culture

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

APICS certification preferred

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

SAPGatekeeper (SAP)

Job description

Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact.

The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section. As a Corporate Buyer, you will play a key role in facilitating the distribution of our products to customers and consumers. You will support various supply chain functions, including analyzing production metrics to align with market needs in Supply & Demand Planning, managing product transportation through Logistics, and contributing to Direct Store Delivery to ensure shelves are stocked. You will be responsible for purchasing packaging, ingredients, and operating supplies in accordance with established policies, while optimizing price, delivery, and terms to support operational efficiency and compliance.

What You’ll Do

• Participate in Strategic Planning: Regularly attend Marketing meetings and provide input on business strategy.
• Make Informed Business Decisions: Demonstrate the ability to make sound decisions that ensure operations are not adversely affected.
• Manage Product Line Needs: Oversee the day-to-day requirements of a product line used across multiple facilities.
• Control Redundant and Obsolete Materials: Monitor and follow up on excess and outdated materials to maintain inventory efficiency.
• Support Sourcing Activities: As a member of the sourcing group, validate necessary information, implement new suppliers, lead sourcing events, and serve as a liaison between facilities and suppliers, including managing claims.
• Serve as SAP Gatekeeper: Act as the SAP Gatekeeper for Ingredients and Packaging, and provide facility support for SAP, DSP (Data Stewardship Platform), MRP (Material Requirement Planning), and Packaging inquiries.
• Maintain Product Playbooks: Manage and build Playbooks to reflect items purchased for the Lunch Maker product line.
• Collaborate on Product Development: Attend cross-functional meetings to assist Marketing and R&D in the development and implementation of new products or product changes.
• Facilitate Communication: Lead weekly calls, publish meeting recaps, and follow up on action items as needed.
• Analyze Inventory Performance: Prepare and analyze monthly inventory turn reports to support continuous improvement at plant locations.
• Manage Packaging Projects: Lead and coordinate projects related to all components of packaging and associated services.

What We’re Seeking

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university and 2+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Communication Skills: Capable of communicating and expressing ideas clearly and concisely, in both written and verbal formats.
• Technical Knowledge: Familiarity with ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) or MRP (Material Requirement Planning) systems, and general business software.
• Organizational Skills: Strong planning, organization, and execution abilities.
• Negotiation Skills: Demonstrated strength in negotiating with suppliers and stakeholders.
• Travel Flexibility: Willingness and ability to travel up to 20%.
• Team Collaboration: Ability to work well with others in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Workplace Culture: Ability to be respectful, approachable, and team-oriented while building strong working relationships and contributing to a positive work environment.

Other Skills That Make You Stand Out

• C.P.M., A.P.P. or APICS certification preferred.

The expected pay range for this position is $55,000 - $82,500 annually.

Smithfield Foods provides pay ranges that reflect its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the company reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of hire. Individual compensation will be determined based on several factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the role, location of the position, the candidate’s qualifications and experience, internal equity, external market pay for comparable positions and budget considerations. At Smithfield Foods, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive total rewards package.

Learn more about our benefits package here.

Relocation Package Available No

EEO Information

Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.