Packaging Buyer

Overview

The World’s Best Pork from the Industry’s Best Team. As one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies and one of the largest pork processing plants in Canada, we provide premium pork products to those who desire responsibly raised, healthy, quality pork through our commitment to local farmers, families, and communities worldwide. Produced By Families for Families.

We invest in our employee’s potential and value to the company by providing professional development and training for all roles and succession planning to align job interests and potential. Hiring from within is our go to growing our own right here.

This position is responsible for all aspects of our packaging materials inventory accuracy and supplier quality. Through diligent focus, this position ensures that we have the required packaging material available as our operations team produces our products.

• Ensure accurate packaging materials inventory
• Monitor daily packaging inventory levels and work with the Purchasing team and suppliers to address any shortages, preventing any disruptions to production.
• Complete weekly packaging counts at our Cambridge Distribution Center (Friday)
• Produce weekly Packaging usage cost and inventory value based on counts and distribute (Tuesday)
• Work with Inventory Control Coordinators to complete weekly packaging inventory counts and input into our ERP system (Friday)
• Purchasing and distribution for packaging materials
• Place purchase orders for truckload volume corrugate requirements
• Provide direction to Shipping team for routing trucks for daily pick-ups of cardboard (through order routing in ERP system)
• Coordinate adjustments to schedule based on changes to production plan
• Act as the key point of contact for changes to purchase orders
• Provide Shipping team with stocking plan (by location) for packaging materials stored at our distribution centre based on volumes and expected inventory levels
• Monitor inventory for aged packaging material and advise sales of pending aged product
• Coordinate with suppliers to plan for inventory builds for holiday volume
• Source alternative packaging suppliers to meet internal & external customer needs
• Negotiate with current and potential suppliers for best pricing/quality/customer service & performance
• Monitor supplier quality for packaging materials
• Resolve supplier invoice discrepancies – including follow-up with Purchasing team, Shipping & supplier, as required
• Key point of contact with suppliers for all packaging materials, including quality issues, pricing, etc.
• Coordinate trials for new packaging materials and act as key point of contact for all internal communications around changes
• Monitor supplier quality through deviation logs and ensure corrective actions and credits from suppliers are received
• Manage vendor inventory
• Manage all vendor inventory for packaging materials (i.e. Cryovac, labels, cardboard, etc.)
• Provide direction to supplier for replenishment of inventory, based on current usage
• Coordinate required adjustments to inventory levels with suppliers
• Packaging traceability
• Oversee traceability of packaging materials (i.e. identify production times for customer complaints, assist with product hold reporting)
• Investigate any concerns around packaging tares and provide direction to QA, Operations & Sales for follow-up, based on results (i.e. customer credits)
• Support Purchasing Team with other duties, as assigned
• Cover vacation schedules
• Lead purchasing projects, as assigned
• Support other team members to ensure the group provides exceptional service to our internal customers

• Follow the Conestoga WAY in the way you work with others
• Identify and implement process improvements to eliminate repetitive errors
• Participate in a minimum of one RFQ/RFP each year

• Attend company required training
• Remain current with technical knowledge in areas of responsibility
• Attend regular 1:1 coaching/update sessions
• Develop a strong understanding of our production process and systems to ensure the most efficient tracking of our products
• Develop a strong relationship with Shipping, Operations, Sales, Quality and Finance functions

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