Senior Buyer: Packaging & Indirect Materials

Santa Monica Seafood; East Compton (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Santa Monica Seafood in Rancho Dominguez, CA seeks a Senior Buyer — Packaging & Indirect Materials to lead strategic sourcing for packaging, PPE, MRO, and other indirect materials across our locations.

The role aims to consolidate purchasing, reduce costs, and ensure reliable supply while maintaining quality and service. The ideal candidate has 5+ years in procurement, strong negotiation, and hands-on experience with packaging materials in food manufacturing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Procurement, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent education and relevant professional experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive purchasing, strategic sourcing, or procurement experience.
• Experience purchasing packaging materials, PPE, MRO supplies, or other indirect materials strongly preferred.
• Experience in food processing, manufacturing, distribution, consumer products, or related industries preferred.
• Experience supporting purchasing activities across multiple facilities is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead company-wide sourcing and procurement activities for packaging materials, PPE, MRO supplies, sanitation products, and other indirect purchasing categories.
• Develop sourcing strategies that balance cost, quality, service, supply continuity, and operational requirements.
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify suppliers to improve purchasing leverage and reduce supply risks.
• Conduct competitive bidding, RFQs, RFPs, and supplier selection processes.
• Monitor market trends, material costs, and supplier capabilities to support purchasing decisions.
• Establish and maintain productive relationships with key suppliers.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, supply agreements, rebates, and service-level commitments.
• Manage supplier contracts, renewals, and compliance with negotiated terms.
• Evaluate supplier performance using cost, quality, delivery, and service metrics.
• Address supplier performance issues and develop corrective action plans when necessary.
• Identify and implement measurable cost-reduction and cost-avoidance initiatives.
• Consolidate suppliers and standardize purchasing practices across company locations.
• Analyze purchasing expenditures to identify savings and process improvement opportunities.
• Develop annual procurement savings objectives and track results.
• Support inventory optimization and working capital improvement initiatives.
• Partner with Operations, Manufacturing, Distribution, Finance, Food Safety, Quality Assurance, and other departments to understand purchasing requirements.
• Coordinate procurement activities across multiple facilities to maximize purchasing leverage.
• Support packaging specifications, new product introductions, and operational improvement initiatives.
• Assist with inventory planning to minimize shortages, excess inventory, and operational disruptions.
• Resolve supplier-related issues affecting production, distribution, or customer service.

Skills

Negotiation

Supplier management

Contract administration

Analytical abilities

Excel proficiency

ERP systems familiarity

Communication & collaboration

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management or related field

Tools

ERP purchasing systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Santa Monica Seafood in Rancho Dominguez, CA seeks a Senior Buyer — Packaging & Indirect Materials to lead strategic sourcing for packaging, PPE, MRO, and other indirect materials across our locations.

The role aims to consolidate purchasing, reduce costs, and ensure reliable supply while maintaining quality and service. The ideal candidate has 5+ years in procurement, strong negotiation, and hands-on experience with packaging materials in food manufacturing.