Job Description

This role is responsible for procuring indirect materials and services critical to continuous manufacturing operations. The Indirect Buyer ensures essential materials and services are always on hand to support can making and can filling operations, partnering closely with Maintenance, Engineering, Operations, and Facilities to keep production running safely and efficiently. Purchases span a broad range of indirect categories including MRO, spare parts, process chemicals and lubricants, consumables, services, facilities support, and capital-related spend.

Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Procure indirect materials and services (MRO, spare parts, process chemicals, lubricants, production consumables, services, and facilities support) with a focus on ensuring critical items are available at all times to prevent line downtime.
• Convert approved purchase requisitions into purchase orders, expedite deliveries, and manage issues to support uninterrupted manufacturing operations.
• Actively improve procurement systems and processes; streamline workflows, eliminate waste, and improve responsiveness to plant needs.
• Develop strong relationships with plant stakeholders and establish a reputation as a trusted advisor.
• Work with suppliers and service providers to ensure technical, safety, and operational requirements are met.
• Ensure continuity of supply through proactive supplier management and expediting.
• Respond with urgency to shortages or risks that could impact production uptime.
• Partner with Finance to improve payment terms, resolve invoice issues, and ensure on-time supplier payment.
• Support supplier performance management in coordination with the Indirect Category Manager.
• Ensure critical indirect materials are stocked appropriately based on consumption and risk.
• Coordinate supplier engagement with Maintenance, Engineering, and Operations as needed.
• Engage daily with manufacturing teams to understand priorities and respond quickly to urgent needs.
• Work closely with the Indirect Category Manager to execute category strategies, implement standards, and drive continuous improvement across indirect spend.

Food Safety:

Responsible and required to notify management about actual or potential food safety issues; and empowered to act to resolve food safety issues within their scope of work. If this position is vacant for any significant period of time the obligation for completion of all food safety and quality related tasks will become the responsibility of the direct manager or a qualified designee.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Skills/ Knowledge:

Works on assignments that are complex in nature where considerable judgment, analysis, and initiative are required in resolving problems and making recommendations. Serves as a liaison with internal and/or external contacts. Must be experienced with balancing strategic and tactical business initiatives.

Computer Skills:

The ability to work effectively in a Microsoft Windows environment (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and internal software programs), with advanced presentation skills and the ability to create and maintain spreadsheets. Prior experience with ERP systems (Infor, SAP, Oracle, MS Dynamics, etc.) is preferred.

Certificates and Licenses:

CPP (Certified Purchasing Professional) or CPDW (Certified Professional in Distribution and Warehousing) is a plus but not required.

Education:

Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university in Supply Chain or Business preferred. 2+ years purchasing experience desired.

Physical Demands:

The Physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands to finger, handle and feel objects, tools, and controls. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, bend, and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.