Procurement Specialist

Position Summary:

The Procurement Specialist is responsible for managing the end-to-end purchasing process for food ingredients, including purchase order creation, inventory monitoring, and supplier coordination to ensure availability and reliability. This role maintains accurate records of specifications and certifications, aligns purchasing activities with inbound logistics to reduce costs and avoid delays, and resolves shipping or compliance issues as they arise. The specialist will collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, QA, Production, and Finance to support product launches and ensure ingredient sourcing aligns with functional, regulatory, and budgetary requirements.

Primary Responsibilities: 

Order Placement & Inventory Control

• Manage purchase order creation, approval workflows, and order tracking from confirmation through delivery.
• Monitor inventory levels and place orders in accordance with safety stock policies and lead times.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to ingredient availability or supplier reliability.

Procurement & Sourcing

• Maintain up-to-date records of ingredient specifications, supplier certifications, and pricing structures.

Logistics & Supply Chain Integration

• Align purchasing with inbound logistics to reduce transportation costs and prevent production delays.
• Resolve shipping discrepancies, customs documentation, and vendor compliance issues.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with R&D, QA, Production, and Finance to align procurement activities with product development, quality standards, and budget targets.
• Support new product launches by securing ingredients that meet functional, regulatory, and cost requirements.

Skills and Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience in procurement or supply chain, preferably in the food manufacturing or ingredient industry.
• Knowledge of food-grade ingredient sourcing and regulatory requirements (e.g., FSMA, SQF, Organic, Non-GMO).
• Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., Deacom or similar).
• Strong negotiation, vendor management, and communication skills.
• Ability to analyze data and trends to make informed purchasing decisions.
• Strong data analysis skills and Excel proficiency.
• Understanding of global ingredient markets and import/export practices preferred
• Certification in Supply Chain Management (e.g., CPSM, CSCP) is a plus.