Purchasing Specialist II

Description

GENERAL SUMMARY:

This is a salaried position located in City of Industry, California, reporting directly to the Purchasing Manager. The Purchasing Specialist II is responsible for the sourcing, procurement, negotiation, and management of raw materials, packaging materials, and ingredients for food manufacturing operations. This role serves as a key contributor in driving cost savings, supplier performance improvements, inventory optimization, and ERP data integrity while ensuring uninterrupted supply to production operations.

The Purchasing Specialist II works closely with Operations, Production Planning, Quality Assurance, R&D, Finance, and suppliers to identify opportunities for continuous improvement, reduce total cost of ownership, and improve procurement effectiveness through data analysis and strategic supplier partnerships.

SCOPE OF JOB FUNCTION

Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management

• Support sourcing initiatives for raw materials, ingredients, packaging, and indirect procurement categories.
• Develop and execute supplier negotiation strategies that support annual cost-reduction objectives.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, rebates, and supply agreements.
• Conduct supplier benchmarking and competitive bidding processes (RFQ, RFP, and supplier evaluations) as stablished by Purchasing Manager.
• Identify alternative sourcing opportunities to mitigate supply chain disruptions and reduce risk.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships focused on quality, service, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Support supplier performance reviews utilizing scorecards and key performance metrics.
• Participate in supplier audits and business reviews when appropriate.

Cost Savings & Financial Analysis

• Support and develop and implement cost savings initiatives that contribute to departmental and company financial objectives.
• Analyze commodity trends, market conditions, and supplier pricing structures to identify savings opportunities.
• Track and report cost savings, cost avoidance, and procurement performance metrics.
• Evaluate total cost of ownership, including material costs, freight, inventory carrying costs, and supplier service levels.
• Assist in annual budgeting and forecasting activities related to purchasing materials.

ERP, MRP & Procurement Analytics

• Analyze ERP data to identify purchasing inefficiencies, excess inventory, obsolete materials, and forecast inaccuracies.
• Maintain accurate item master data including pricing, lead times, minimum order quantities, supplier information, and replenishment parameters.
• Generate and analyze purchasing reports, supplier performance metrics, inventory trends, and spend analyses.
• Support system enhancements, process improvements, and new ERP functionality implementations.
• Validate purchasing data integrity and recommend corrective actions as needed.

Inventory & Supply Chain Optimization

• Monitor inventory levels to ensure adequate material availability while minimizing excess inventory.
• Collaborate with Production Planning to support production schedules and forecast requirements.
• Analyze inventory exposure, discontinued materials, and slow-moving inventories.
• Proactively identify potential shortages and develop mitigation plans.
• Coordinate material transitions for new product launches, reformulations, and packaging changes.
• Support inventory management initiatives.

Cross-Functional Support

• Collaborate with R&D and Quality teams in the evaluation and approval of new materials and suppliers.
• Support new product development projects through material sourcing and cost analysis.
• Work closely with Accounting to resolve supplier discrepancies, pricing issues, and rebate programs.
• Assist Purchasing Manager with departmental initiatives, process improvements, and strategic procurement projects.
• Maintain compliance with company policies, food safety requirements, GMPs, SQF standards, and supplier approval programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE

REQUIRED:

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or related field. 
• 5-8 years of purchasing, procurement, sourcing, or supply chain experience within a food manufacturing environment. 
• Demonstrated success negotiating supplier contracts and achieving measurable cost savings. 
• ERP and MRP systems experience (Ross, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, or equivalent). 
• Strong analytical skills with experience interpreting purchasing, inventory, and financial data. 
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills including Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, Power Query, and data analysis tools. 
• Strong understanding of inventory control methodologies and supply chain planning concepts. 
• Excellent negotiation, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills. 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. 
• Knowledge of GMPs, food safety standards, and supplier quality requirements. 
• Ability to travel occasionally as business needs require.

DESIRED:

• Experience with supplier scorecards and vendor performance management programs. 
• Experience with procurement analytics, business intelligence tools, and dashboard reporting. 
• Experience leading cost-reduction and continuous improvement initiatives. 
• Bilingual English/Spanish.