Purchasing Buyer/Expediter/Planner - 1st shift - Newly Weds Foods- Horn Lake, MS

The Buyer is responsible for the procurement of diversified categories at the lowest total cost.  The Corporate Buyer shares responsibility for performing, reviewing, analyzing, and evaluating audits to ensure accuracy and compliance.  The Corporate Buyer helps ensure that plant purchasing departments are functioning at a high level. The Corporate Buyer shares the coordination of raw material planning of major sales account activity and serves as back-up to plant Purchasing Manager. Performs other duties as assigned.

Essential Functions:

• Purchase categories with an emphasis on strategizing and implementing cost reduction activities, quality improvement, on time delivery, inventory reduction, lead-time reduction and customer focus. 
• Source new suppliers as required for new and existing categories. Determine the best source of supply by evaluating price, quality, manufacturing capabilities, lead time, service support and financial stability. 
• Develop and establish multiple sources as needed.
• Maintain up-to-date commercial and contractual knowledge of the market place and methods adopted by peer groups to ensure that best practices are continually developed and utilized.
• Evaluate Supplier Performance based on the total cost of ownership.
• Shared responsibility to conduct audits of plant purchasing practices for efficiency and compliance with corporate guidelines, including but not limited to reviewing monthly excess and write off reports, reviewing random purchase history for best practices, and monitoring compliance with company goals.
• Shared responsibility analyzing monthly plant inventory reports, payable discrepancy reports and/or missed ship date reports.
• Shared responsibility to Function as corporate liaison to Newly Weds Foods plants. Trains plant Purchasing Managers in corrective measures as noted in their respective audits. Trains new hires/acquisition staff.
• Shares Administrative function including: editing/updating purchasing manuals and procedures, maintaining the Purchasing Document Library and Database, and assisting with the organization of Conferences.
• Shared responsibility planning new major domestic account promotions, product introductions and large plant transfers.
• Functions as back-up to a plant Purchasing Manager as required.
• Work collaboratively cross-functionally.
• Perform other duties or projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Requires a Bachelor’s Degree.
• Minimum of three years’ experience in Corporate Purchasing or related discipline. 
• Food buying experience required. Packaging buying, food manufacturing and background in a manufacturing system experience a plus.
• Strong communication, analytical abilities, organization skills and general knowledge of Adobe applications, Microsoft 0ffice and Lotus Notes

Work Environment:

• General office setting
• Domestic and/or International travel as required by category assignment and audit schedule
• Periodic exposure to: (1) loud environment, (2) airborne particles with stronger odors associated with spicy food ingredients.