Procurement Buyer III

Westrock Coffee; Little Rock (AR); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Westrock Coffee in Little Rock, AR seeks a Procurement Buyer III to lead packaging procurement, negotiate contracts, and manage supplier relationships across manufacturing, QA, R&D and finance.

The role focuses on cost optimization, risk management, and cross-functional sourcing within a Global Sourcing team, mentoring junior buyers and driving continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain or related field.
• 5+ years in packaging, preferably in a food/beverage manufacturing setting.
• Experience managing external vendors, including sourcing, contracts, risk management, forecasting and category strategies.
• Strong computer skills: Word, Excel, Outlook, NetSuite or other ERP systems.
• Ability to work in fast paced high-pressure environment with internal/external customers.
• Experience in Capital Procurement and profitability mindset.
• Professional certification preferred (CPSM/CPIM).
• Familiar with S&OP and MRP processes; management experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop sourcing plans that analyze costs and drive multi-year procurement plans.
• Identify, source and assess potential trustworthy partners.
• Create a system to evaluate partners for quality, price, delivery and service.
• Drive continuous improvement through multi-step sourcing processes with the Global Sourcing team.
• Perform supply chain management activities including expediting and tracking deliveries.
• Collaborate with packaging vendors to reduce waste and lower costs.
• Partner with product development on packaging and technology innovations.
• Negotiate and execute contracts, RFI/RFPs, proposals and vendor agreements.
• Interface with Global Sourcing QA to ensure specs and standards are met.
• Support commercialization of NPD projects with the sales team.
• Liaise between Procurement and Manufacturing for effective communication.
• Manage plant purchasing card and report expenses.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Communication skills

Vendor management

Contract management

Financial literacy

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Decision making

Coaching/leadership

Education

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

Tools

NetSuite

Excel

Word

Outlook

ERP systems

Job description

Westrock's Procurement Buyer III is a dynamic, self-motivated and results oriented leader with a proven record of generating and building relationships, managing projects from concept to completion, and demonstrating exceptional communication skills. Primary responsibilities include the negotiation, purchase and risk management of various commodities; the development and management of supplier relationships in conjunction with internal stakeholders (Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Research & Development, and Finance); and the management of strategic contracts that include an emphasis on quality, continuous improvement and service. In addition, develop other buyers throughout the organization. Adaptable and transformational manager with an ability to develop opportunities that further establish organizational goals.

Responsibilities:

• 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
• 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, teaching those sourcing processes to direct reports and 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 packaging vendors to minimize waste and introduce higher quality/lower cost packaging options
• Work with product development on the future of rigid packaging and is partner on innovation and the introduction of new technologies
• Negotiate and execute contracts, RFI/RFP, proposals and vendor agreements for legal correctness, price and acceptability of items to specifications
• 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

7019

Shift

First

Qualification

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain or other related field
• 5+ years' experience in packaging, 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)
• 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 develop and contribute to strategic vision for a Global Procurement organization
• Effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously & to develop priorities for self and members of staff
• Collaborates cross-functionally
• Professional certification is a plus (CPSM/CPIM) preferred
• Knowledge of a Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process preferred
• Familiar with Materials Requirements Planning (MRP) preferred
• Management experience is a plus

Equal Opportunity Employer / Vets / Disabled

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