Purchasing Planner

The Purchasing Planner position is a key role within our strategic plan for ACG Supply Chain. An enthusiastic self-starter with a strong drive to improve existing processes and systems is highly desired. Excellent organizational skills, ability to balance immediate/long term priorities are a necessity. The Purchasing Planner is comfortable negotiating and discussing financial information.

• Assist in negotiating initial pricing, price changes, and other terms and conditions with suppliers to obtain the best return at the most cost-effective prices possible while retaining quality specifications.
• Assist in sourcing and onboarding new vendor relationships.
• Maintain working professional relationships with all assigned suppliers.
• Maintain strong working relationships and communications directly with co-workers, suppliers, vendors, and contract manufacturers to confirm production/shipping schedules and monitor open purchase orders for all orders to ensure on-time deliveries.
• Review suppliers and take correct action to improve performance of non-performing suppliers.
• Communicate with vendors regarding requirements, capacities, and schedules.
• Maintain vendor files in software system(s) to ensure necessary paperwork is up to date for audits.
• Obtain samples, product information, pricing, and product specifications as needed.
• Effectively manage material/vendor returns, etc.

• Plan and execute procurement of finished goods, raw materials, and/or packaging from manufacturers and suppliers using MRP system ensuring timely placement and delivery of components in line with production planning requirements.
• Manage inventory on a continuous basis and maintain proper levels to ensure product line objectives are met while optimizing inventory to ensure custom demand is met with consideration of expiration dates, product quality, and warehousing space.
• Maintain purchase order status and shipment tracking information in ERP system including expediting and rescheduling open purchase orders to suit production planning requirements.
• Escalate and advise to appropriate people/departments schedule conflicts/status, material availability and potential problems relative to meeting demand and within company guidelines and gain approval for adding to delivered cost.
• Assist and lead in sourcing and onboarding new ingredients and/or finished goods.
• Communicate and collaborate with Supply Chain regarding procurement information relating to vendors, customers and capacity.

• Work may be part of specialty team, as an individual or consultant contributor or a combination of both
• Develop policies and procedures as part of the procurement team
• Review and resolve invoice discrepancies
• Complete special projects and assignments as requested.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Will work directly with all levels of organization and all departments from ownership to entry level employees.
• Should be comfortable working in a production environment and near production equipment.

• Excellent interpersonal skills – team player
• Hard worker who is a self-starter and proactive
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Knowledge of production and processing
• Strong analytical, planning, and organizational skills
• Excellent critical thinking and problem solving skills

3+ years’ experience in purchasing, inventory control, materials planning preferred but not required.

• High School Diploma is required
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred but not required.