Procurement Buyer III

westrockcoffeeinternaljobs; Little Rock (AR); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Westrock Coffee is seeking a Procurement Buyer III to lead sourcing initiatives for packaging and related materials. The role focuses on building supplier relationships, negotiating terms, and managing risk across manufacturing and QA teams.

You will develop multi-year procurement plans, drive value with vendors, and support new product development in collaboration with sales and operations.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in packaging, preferably in a food/beverage manufacturing environment; or equivalent education/experience.
• Experience managing a diverse set of external vendors, including sourcing, contracts, risk management, forecasting, developing category strategies.
• Strong computer skills (Word, Excel, Outlook, NetSuite or other ERP).

Responsibilities

• Develop sourcing plans to drive multi-year procurement plans and manage costs.
• Identify, source and assess potential trustworthy partners.
• Evaluate partners to ensure quality, price, delivery, and service according to terms.
• Create and implement multi-step sourcing processes to drive Best Value with vendors.
• Expedite and track urgent deliveries and check received items.
• Collaborate with packaging vendors to minimize waste and improve packaging quality/cost.
• Support commercialization of new product development projects with sales.
• Coordinate between Procurement and Manufacturing for effective communication.

Skills

Vendor management

Contract negotiation

Sourcing

Forecasting

Cross-functional collaboration

Financial acumen

ERP systems

Excel

Project management

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain

Tools

NetSuite

Word

Excel

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

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