Indirect Buyer - manufacturing presso LiDestri Foods

About LiDestri Foods

LiDestri Foods has grown from our roots as a pasta sauce and salsa manufacturer to become an R&D engine, formulating and producing innovative food products for our national and retailer brand partners. A family-run company based in Rochester, NY, LiDestri employs over 1,000 people across three U.S. locations. We have decades-long partnerships with some of the most respected consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and the most highly inventive retailer brands. 

Excellent Pay and Benefits:

• Great career-pathing 
• Professional development, including unlimited online training courses
• Health insurance with premium contributions
• Dental, vision, HSA
• 100% company paid life insurance and long-term disability
• 401k – with employer match
• Paid time off to include- vacation, sick pay, wellness time off, and 10 holidays
• Company bonuses
• And many more….

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Indirect Buyer is responsible for developing and maintaining indirect supplier relationships, sourcing, pricing, negotiating and ensuring availability for all indirect items and maintenance materials.  Conduct market analysis to identify trends and opportunities for cost savings. Manage supplier relationships, negotiations, and contracts to ensure favorable terms.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build relationships with key stakeholders to gather category requirements and specifications from departments and category subject matter experts 
• Develop strategic sourcing / purchasing plans that support the future profitability of the business
• Analyze current spend and find areas to improve service, reduce costs, and streamline purchasing procedures
• Identify and leverage company-wide spend opportunities
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for highest spend, greatest complexity, and most critical/strategic categories
• Engage in the sourcing and procuring of capital equipment
• Work closely with operations and finance to support MRO inventory management system; Obtain up to date commodity information for pricing and availability
• Maintain negotiated pricing in Oracle iProcurement system
• Provide forecasts to suppliers as appropriate
• Prepare and analyze Requests for Quote
• Research vendors to determine best options and make recommendations by evaluating total cost and quality of indirect materials and services
• Improve pay terms for indirect/MRO material suppliers
• Evaluate and monitor contracts and lease agreements to identify contracts that are coming up for bid or renewal
• Source, develop, and build mutually beneficial relationships with suppliers
• Submit RFQs, negotiate favorable conditions considering cost, quality, delivery, and payment terms, and finalize the related contract
• Work with internal department to source suppliers for new and current items
• Participate in cross-functional teams on new indirect materials and obsoleting indirect materials used in the plants and warehouses
• Work in partnership with suppliers when unexpected circumstances arise that disrupt operations and follow up with correction action(s) to prevent future occurrences
• Organize, update, and retain product information files and purchase contracts
• Check for accuracy and compliance with existing policies and procedures related to procurement and ensure they are current, up-to-date, and being followed
• Works closely with the A/P department to resolve billing issues and correct PO errors to enable A/P to pay invoices within payment terms
• Support Admins (admins issue the POs) on sourcing and quoting indirect materials for plants and warehouses
• Train and support all users on iProcurement
• Back up admins when they are out of office creating their requisitions and POs
• Report food safety and quality problems to personnel with authority to initiate action

REQUIRED EDUCATION, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Supply Chain, Business Administration or other related field plus 2-years’ experience in an Indirect Buyer role preferred
• Associate’s degree in related field and 5+ years of Indirect Buyer experience required
• CPSM or CIPS professional designation a plus
• Strong negotiation skills
• Excellent leadership skills
• Manufacturing experience 
• Ability to work with numbers, calculations, attention to detail with high level of accuracy
• Assist in maintaining lasting cooperative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders and vendors
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, with limited supervision
• Communication & Organization Skills- must have very good skills
• Intermediate/Advanced Excel experience
• Oracle experience a plus

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Regularly required to sit, use hands
• Occasionally need to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, with a potential of up to 25 pounds
• Sedentary office environment
• Occasional exposure to manufacturing plant floor requiring the use of personal protective equipment (ear plugs, safety glasses, bump cap, skid-resistant leather shoes, etc.)
• Occasional travel including trade shows, supplier visits, conferences etc.
• Must follow Good Manufacturing Practice (hair net, no jewelry, no fake nails or eyelashes, no food/drink, gum, etc. in manufacturing Plant)

DISCLAIMER: The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed and is not an inclusive summary of job duties and responsibilities. The omission of specific statements of duties or responsibilities does not exclude them from the position.  This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the Company as the needs of the Company and requirements of the job change.