Procurement Buyer

Westrock Coffee Company; Conway (AR); On-site; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Westrock Coffee Company in Conway, AR is seeking a Procurement Buyer II for Capital Projects & MRO. You will manage risk, source equipment and parts, and build supplier relationships with manufacturing, QA, R&D and finance teams to support strategic contracts and continuous improvement.

The role leverages AI-enabled sourcing tools to drive data-driven decisions, cost analysis, and timely delivery. A strong background in capital procurement and P&L awareness is essential for success in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business or Supply Chain.
• 5+ years procuring equipment in food/beverage manufacturing.
• Experience managing external vendors and contracts.
• Strong computer skills including AI-powered tools.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience in Capital Procurement.
• Financial understanding of P&L.

Responsibilities

• Develop sourcing plans and multi-year procurement plans to maintain costs.
• Use AI-enabled tools for spend analysis and market research.
• Identify, source and assess potential partners.
• Evaluate partners for quality, price, delivery, and service.
• Create multi-step sourcing processes with Global Sourcing team for continuous improvement.
• Coordinate expediting and tracking of urgent deliveries and received items.
• Work with equipment vendors to ensure reliability and stocking options.
• Collaborate with project management to receive critical path items for manufacturing.
• Interface with Global Sourcing QA to ensure standards are met.
• Support commercialization of NPD projects with sales team.
• Liaise between Procurement and Manufacturing for effective communication.
• Manage plant purchasing card and document expenses.

Skills

Communication skills

Project management

Analytical mindset

Decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Supply Chain

Tools

Copilot

Generative AI

NetSuite

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Job Description
Westrock's Procurement Buyer II – Capital Projects & MRO is a dynamic, self-motivated and results-oriented professional with a proven record of building relationships, managing projects from concept to completion, and demonstrating exceptional communication skills. Primary responsibilities include the purchase and risk management of various equipment and parts; the development and management of supplier relationships in conjunction with internal stakeholders (Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Research & Development, and Finance); and supporting strategic contracts, owned by Category Management, with an emphasis on quality, continuous improvement and service. This role leverages modern procurement tools and technology, including AI-enabled platforms, to drive efficient sourcing, data analysis and decision-making.

Job Description
Westrock's Procurement Buyer II – Capital Projects & MRO is a dynamic, self-motivated and results-oriented professional with a proven record of building relationships, managing projects from concept to completion, and demonstrating exceptional communication skills. Primary responsibilities include the purchase and risk management of various equipment and parts; the development and management of supplier relationships in conjunction with internal stakeholders (Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Research & Development, and Finance); and supporting strategic contracts, owned by Category Management, with an emphasis on quality, continuous improvement and service. This role leverages modern procurement tools and technology, including AI-enabled platforms, to drive efficient sourcing, data analysis and decision-making.
Principal Job Duties:

• Develop sourcing plans that analyze and calculate costs of procurement and use those to drive multi-year procurement plans and events to maintain flat to down raw material costs in inflationary environments
• Leverage AI-enabled tools and data analytics for spend analysis, market research and reporting to support faster, more informed sourcing decisions
• Identify, source and assess potential trustworthy partners
• Develop a system to evaluate partners to ensure quality, price, delivery, and service. Review periodically to ensure compliance to agreed upon terms and conditions.
• Create and utilize multi-step sourcing processes that drive Best Value relationships with vendors, sharing those sourcing processes with the Global Sourcing team to ensure Continuous Improvement in the supply chain
• Perform supply chain management activities, including the expediting and tracking of urgent deliveries and checking of received items.
• Work with equipment vendors to ensure reliability and determine stocking options
• Work with project management team to coordinate receipt of critical path items to support the manufacturing process
• Interface and align with Global Sourcing Quality Assurance team to ensure specifications and standards are consistently met
• Support commercialization of NPD (New Product Development) projects with sales team
• Liaise between Procurement and Manufacturing to ensure effective communication
• Manage the plant purchasing card, document and report on all expenses accordingly
• Performs other duties as assigned

Requisition Number 6997
Shift Office Hours TBD
Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain or other related field
• 5+ years' experience in procuring equipment, preferably in a food and/or beverage manufacturing environment; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience managing a diverse set of external vendors, including sourcing, managing contracts, risk management, forecasting, developing category strategies, and manufacturing relationships
• Strong computer skills (Word, Excel, Outlook, NetSuite, or other similar ERP systems), including comfort using AI-powered tools (e.g., Copilot, generative AI) to support research, analysis and reporting
• Ability to work in fast paced high-pressure environment where change is constant and needs to be managed with internal and external customers
• Experience in Capital Procurement
• Financial understanding of P&L and ability to drive results for bottom line profit
• Demonstrates superior interpersonal, coaching, and communication skills to multiple levels of the organization
• Motivated, self-directed, and detail oriented
• Aptitude in decision-making and working with financial KPI's
• Ability to support and contribute to the strategic priorities of the Global Procurement organization
• Effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously and develop priorities for self
• Collaborates cross-functionally

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional certification is a plus (CPSM/CPIM)
• Expérience working with maintenance management systems
• 2+ years' experience working with Tipalti or similar accounts payable automation software preferred

Starting Pay Rate Pay Rate $70,000.00