Senior Buyer

Maple Leaf Farms; Milford (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Maple Leaf Farms in Indiana is seeking a Senior Buyer to oversee procurement of materials, ingredients, packaging and production supplies while maintaining inventory and ensuring cost-effective purchasing.

The role also supports supplier quality requirements, manages the CHEP pallet program, maintains vendor relations, and collaborates with Finance on pricing and budgeting across all locations. Some travel may be required. Experience with D365 ERP and TraceGains is preferred.

Qualifications

• 3-5 yrs of progressively responsible experience in manufacturing and purchasing.
• Preferred degree in Business with focus on purchasing or supply management or equivalent experience.
• CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management) certification preferred.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills required.
• Experience with D365 ERP and TraceGains is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Process RFQs for materials, packaging, and samples.
• Place orders and set up special delivery requirements.
• Enter POs and receiving in Maple Leaf Farms system.
• Maintain packaging and ingredient inventories; weekly orders.
• Manage CHEP pallet program and related invoicing.
• Maintain vendor relations and contract setups; address pricing issues.
• Provide pricing for budgets and forecasts across departments.
• Coordinate with Marketing/R&D on new packaging with vendors.
• Travel may be required.

Skills

Negotiation

Vendor management

Communication

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business with purchasing focus

CPSM certification

Tools

D365

ERP systems

TraceGains

Microsoft Word

Excel

Job description

The Senior Buyer oversees the procurement of materials, ingredients, packaging, and production supplies while maintaining inventory levels and ensuring cost-effective purchasing. This role also supports supplier quality requirements, manages the CHEP pallet program, and provides purchasing support across all company locations.

• Process requests for quotes for materials and for samples. Placing the order for the requested items and setting up special delivery requirements or helping the end user set up a system for self-ordering with approved vendors. Also includes processing paperwork to accounts payable and/or computer entry to enter the purchase order and the receiving into the Maple Leaf Farms computer system.
• Setup of new item numbers for inventoried and non-inventoried items in D365. Some set up is needed in CAT2/D365 for inventoried items.
• Strong use of MRP based tools from D365 for our Purchasing recommendations will be used for generating PO’s.
• Maintain all packaging and ingredient inventories for the plant, checking inventories, weekly ordering and reviewing a monthly complete packaging inventory.
• Maintain vendor relations. This includes setting up and maintaining contracts, processing quote requests, dealing with pricing/costing issues, dealing with quality/return issues which lead to obtaining credit memos and managing delivery issues.
• Provide pricing for inventoried items for yearly Budget to Accounting, Production Managers, and Marketing and Sales with a forecast of increases or decreases as anticipated for upcoming year. Provide pricing for Production Managers on upcoming year’s budget for employees’ personal wear and tooling needed for production; gloves, aprons, sleeve guards, and knives.
• Help Marketing and R&D develop packaging for new products by coordinating the communication between Maple Leaf Farms departments and the chosen vendor(s) for the project.
• Help QAFS Systems Manager with Supplier Documentation, Raw Material Specification Development and Supplier Reviews.
• CHEP Pallet Program - Managing daily transfer issuance to appropriate customers requiring this style of pallet, within the CHEP portal. Request replenishment of CHEP pallet inventory as needed. Process weekly invoices for the CHEP pallet rental program. Involved in periodic pallet count audits.
• Help and serve all Maple Leaf Farms employees and locations.
• Some travel may be required.
• Perform related duties as required.

Skills, Abilities, and Education

Education: Preferred degree in Business with a focus on purchasing or supply management or equivalent experience in a manufacturing or processing environment.

Experience: 3-5 yrs. of progressively responsible experience in manufacturing and purchasing required.

Certifications: CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management) practices, experience through the Institute for Supply Management is preferred.

Language: Effective verbal and written communication skills required.

Technology: Prior experience of D365 is preferred. Proficiency with ERP systems, TraceGains, Microsoft Word and Excel are a plus.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.