Buyer

PURPOSE The Buyer holds a strategic position within the organization, ensuring the seamless integration of procurement, inventory management, and distribution. The Buyer is responsible for sourcing raw ingredients, packaging, and related materials required for both blending operations and resale opportunities, while ensuring continuity of supply, cost competitiveness, and compliance with regulatory and customer requirements. This role works closely with Supply Chain, Product Development, Quality, Operations and Sales to forecast demand, negotiate supplier pricing and terms, manage logistics, and maintain optimal inventory levels. The Buyer ensures materials meet quality, food safety, and specification standards; supports customer-specific requirements; contributes to cost-savings initiatives; and is key in monitoring continuous supplier performance improvements and initiatives. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (including, but not limited to) Develop and execute sourcing strategies for raw ingredients and packaging materials to support production plans, customer requirements, and long-term business objectives. Lead supplier selection, qualification, and performance management, ensuring alignment with quality, food safety, sustainability, and regulatory standards. Negotiate pricing, contracts, and commercial terms to manage costs, mitigate risks, and improve gross margin performance. Collaborate with Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, Product Development and Sales to align procurement plans with demand forecasts, inventory strategies, and customer-specific specifications. Manage supplier relationships to ensure continuity of supply, capacity availability, and responsiveness to changing business needs. Support customer requirements by ensuring ingredient sourcing meets contractual, regulatory, allergen, traceability, and labeling expectations. Monitor market trends, commodity pricing, and supplier risks; proactively identify opportunities and communicating potential supply disruptions. Coordinate risk management efforts across the procurement portfolio, including the development of contingency plans to mitigate the impact of disruptions, shortages, or other unforeseen challenges. Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the supply chain team, encouraging innovation, professional development, and collaboration to achieve strategic goals. Represent the company in industry associations, conferences, and professional groups to stay informed of emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in supply chain management Can demonstrate strategic sourcing, global logistics management, supply chain risk management and contract negotiation expertise Identify opportunities for Distribution and Supply Chain process improvements and support management that enables optimization of customer service, cost and cash flow. Drive continuous improvement initiatives, including cost-reduction projects, supplier qualifications, and process efficiencies. Contribute to cross-functional projects, such as new product development, reformulations, new and/or alternate sourcing strategies. Review demand forecasts, production schedules, and inventory levels to confirm purchasing priorities. Track foreign currency trends and provide recommendations for forward bookings. Place and manage purchase orders for ingredients and packaging, in line with lead times and requirements. Coordinate with international freight companies and customs brokers; track shipments, communicate delays, resolve documentation issues, ensure accurate freight and duty rates are applied to purchase orders. Review order confirmations, invoices, and freight costs for accuracy against contracts and quotes. Maintain thorough knowledge of inventory levels, regularly review stock and order levels against demand. Update ERP systems with pricing, lead times, supplier data, and material master changes. Maintain supplier information for each inventory item to include both, primary and secondary suppliers. Maintain clear documentation for traceability, audits, and customer or regulatory requirements. Ensure regular analysis of items approaching expiry and/or high stock levels; identify corrective actions. Participate in daily supply chain meetings to review risks, constraints and action plans. QUALIFICATIONS - Post-secondary degree in a related field or equivalent work experience - Minimum 5 years business experience - Minimum 3-5 years purchasing or supply chain experience, in food manufacturing environment - Thorough knowledge of supply chain management in manufacturing environment - Ingredient commodities experience an asset - Understanding of FIFO and general lean practices with continuous improvement - Solid know of Microsoft Office - Dynamics ERP experience an asset KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIREMENTS - Exceptional organizational skills are a must - Excellent communication skills, both written and oral - Strong interpersonal skills - Attention to detail is essential - Able to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and resolve discrepancies in a reasonable amount of time - Strategic planner and proactive thinker - Commitment to continuous improvement - Strong leadership in creating positive work culture - Proven negotiation skills