Job Brief
Lead company-wide sourcing, supplier negotiations, and procurement of packaging, PPE, MRO supplies, and other indirect materials. Leverage our purchasing scale, strengthen supplier partnerships, and deliver measurable cost savings and improvements.
Pay range:
$100,000 to $115,000 plus incentive
This highly visible Senior Buyer position offers an experienced procurement professional the opportunity to make a meaningful impact across the organization by strengthening supplier partnerships, leveraging our purchasing scale, and driving measurable improvements in cost, efficiency, and operational performance.
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Senior Buyer - Packaging & Indirect Materials to lead strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and procurement activities for packaging, personal protective equipment (PPE), maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) supplies, and other indirect materials across our operations.
This position will play a key role in consolidating purchasing activities across company locations, leveraging our collective buying power, reducing costs, and ensuring reliable supply to support our production and distribution operations.
The ideal candidate combines strong negotiation and analytical skills with hands-on procurement experience and a demonstrated ability to deliver measurable cost savings while maintaining quality, service, and supply continuity.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Sourcing & Procurement
• Lead company-wide sourcing and procurement activities for packaging materials, PPE, MRO supplies, sanitation products, and other indirect purchasing categories.
• Develop sourcing strategies that balance cost, quality, service, supply continuity, and operational requirements.
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify suppliers to improve purchasing leverage and reduce supply risks.
• Conduct competitive bidding, RFQs, RFPs, and supplier selection processes.
• Monitor market trends, material costs, and supplier capabilities to support purchasing decisions.
Supplier Relationship & Contract Management
• Establish and maintain productive relationships with key suppliers.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, supply agreements, rebates, and service-level commitments.
• Manage supplier contracts, renewals, and compliance with negotiated terms.
• Evaluate supplier performance using cost, quality, delivery, and service metrics.
• Address supplier performance issues and develop corrective action plans when necessary.
Cost Optimization & Purchasing Efficiency
• Identify and implement measurable cost-reduction and cost-avoidance initiatives.
• Consolidate suppliers and standardize purchasing practices across company locations.
• Analyze purchasing expenditures to identify savings and process improvement opportunities.
• Develop annual procurement savings objectives and track results.
• Support inventory optimization and working capital improvement initiatives.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner with Operations, Manufacturing, Distribution, Finance, Food Safety, Quality Assurance, and other departments to understand purchasing requirements.
• Coordinate procurement activities across multiple facilities to maximize purchasing leverage.
• Support packaging specifications, new product introductions, and operational improvement initiatives.
• Assist with inventory planning to minimize shortages, excess inventory, and operational disruptions.
• Resolve supplier-related issues affecting production, distribution, or customer service.
Risk Management & Compliance
• Evaluate supplier reliability, financial stability, and business continuity capabilities.
• Ensure purchased materials and suppliers meet applicable food safety, regulatory, quality, and company standards.
• Maintain accurate purchasing documentation, contracts, and supplier records.
• Develop alternative sourcing arrangements for critical materials.
Reporting & Analytics
• Prepare purchasing reports, supplier scorecards, spend analyses, and savings summaries.
• Monitor supplier performance and purchasing trends using ERP and related systems.
• Present sourcing recommendations, cost-saving opportunities, and procurement improvement initiatives to management.
Qualifications
Education
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Procurement, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent education and relevant professional experience will be considered.
Experience
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive purchasing, strategic sourcing, or procurement experience.
• Demonstrated success negotiating supplier agreements, managing vendor relationships, and achieving cost savings.
• Experience purchasing packaging materials, PPE, MRO supplies, or other indirect materials strongly preferred.
• Experience in food processing, manufacturing, distribution, consumer products, or related industries preferred.
• Experience supporting purchasing activities across multiple facilities is highly desirable.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
• Strong negotiation, supplier management, and contract administration skills.
• Excellent analytical abilities, financial acumen, and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and execute cost-saving opportunities.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and familiarity with ERP purchasing systems.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to influence decisions and coordinate activities across multiple departments and locations.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
Key Performance Indicators
Success in this position will be measured by:
• Documented purchasing cost savings and cost avoidance.
• Supplier service, quality, and on-time delivery performance.
• Improved purchasing leverage through supplier consolidation.
• Supply continuity and reduction of material shortages.
• Contract compliance and favorable purchasing terms.
• Inventory optimization and working capital improvements.
• Purchasing process efficiency and standardization across facilities.
Physical & Work Requirements
• Primarily office-based at our Rancho Dominguez corporate headquarters.
• Periodic travel to company facilities, suppliers, and industry events.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multi-location operating environment.
