Purchasing Buyer

Job Description

Purchasing Buyer 10580 (Fully in office)

This position is responsible for hands‑on purchasing support within a food manufacturing operation. The Buyer will independently manage sourcing activities, supplier relationships, and contract negotiations related to raw materials and operational needs. This role is best suited for someone who is comfortable owning their workstream end‑to‑end and thrives as an individual contributor.

The Buyer partners closely with internal teams to ensure materials are secured efficiently, pricing remains competitive, and supplier performance aligns with business expectations.

• Oversee day-to-day purchasing activities for food ingredients, packaging, and select operational supplies.
• Identify, evaluate, and onboard suppliers with a focus on reliability, quality, and cost control.
• Lead sourcing initiatives and negotiate pricing, terms, and supply agreements.
• Maintain and manage vendor relationships, including performance tracking and issue resolution.
• Monitor inventory requirements and support demand planning efforts.
• Address purchasing discrepancies related to orders, invoices, or deliveries in coordination with accounting.
• Support internal stakeholders with purchasing insights tied to production planning and new product initiatives.
• Coordinate with logistics, shipping, and receiving to ensure timely material flow.

• Minimum 7 years of total purchasing or procurement experience.
• Direct experience purchasing within the food industry is required.
• Proven background in supplier sourcing and contract negotiation.
• Demonstrated ability to operate independently and manage priorities without day‑to‑day supervision.
• Strong communication skills with vendors and internal partners.

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Familiarity with purchasing or inventory systems; experience with SAGE or similar platforms is a plus.
• Comfortable working in a manufacturing or production‑driven environment.

Thomas Edwards Group is an Executive Search Firm specializing in the direct hire and interim placement of Accounting, Finance, HR and IT professionals. We’ve been in business since 1997 and the Dallas Business Journal has ranked us a Top Search Firm in Dallas and one of the “Best Places to Work” multiple times. Thomas Edwards Group also made the Inc. 5000 list in 2016 and our award‑winning team of Search Consultants, which rank among the best and most experienced in the area, includes MBAs, CPAs, former Big 4 professionals, controllers, IT search professionals, finance/banking, and business professionals.