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Purchasing Specialist

At Alvarado Street Bakery we are a band of uncompromising Sprouters and Bakers out to make the best tasting bread that is actually good for you. We are not your typical bakery, we are a worker owned bakery. That means every person is important and we all share in the success together. If you want to be part of growing something special, then we are looking for you to join us.

We are currently hiring for our Administration team, namely our Purchasing Specialist.

We are looking for an individual who has strong organizational skills and is highly detail-oriented. They must be an effective negotiator. The best candidate will have excellent computer and communication skills and work well with others. It is a team of one, but integral in working with other administrative, manufacturing and logisitics team members. Food and/or Bakery experience is a Big plus.

Work hours are expected to average about 40-45 hours per week.

We offer a generous benefits package of comprehensive health insurance, 401k Plan with employer contributions and Membership within our Worker Cooperative (Shareholder and profit-sharing opportunities).

Starting pay will be in the range of $ 65,000 - $ 75,000 annually DOE.

Please reply to this ad with a resume of job history and cover letter.

Please refer to the attached job description below.

REPORTS TO: General Coordinator

POSITION PURPOSE: Oversees all purchasing and sourcing activities on behalf of the company.

REPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for all activities and responsibilities associated with the purchase of all raw and packaging materials for the company.


• Negotiates contracts for key materials with suppliers to assure that Alvarado has ample long-range supply and pays the best possible price for its materials and packaging.


• Researches and brings to light new material options and trends for marketing and production to consider for our products.


• Explores and qualifies new supply sources as needed to maintain an ample array of vendor options and competitive pricing.


• Monitors the quality of goods received and acts as the company liaison for all communication and correspondence with suppliers on deviations and defects. Coordinates returns and credits for all rejected materials.


• Is responsible for monitoring and assessing all material inventories and replenishing stock with adequate lead-time to avoid outages or expedited delivery charges.


• Is responsible for the upkeep of all required supplier-related documentation as needed for compliance to regulatory, certifying agencies and Alvarado standards. Maintains this information on file or in the Safe Food 360 system.


• Evaluates, qualifies and negotiates pricing for all approved transportation carriers in the Alvarado network.


• Routinely reports to other departments as needed in regards to material status. Informs others of any variances or issues in a timely fashion.


• Coordinates with the New Products Team and Finance on raw and packaging material cost estimates for new items and any pricing changes affecting the cost of existing products.


• Develops the department’s fiscal budget in an accurate and timely fashion.


• Provides monthly reports to the General Coordinator as requested, along with verbal updates as required.


• Participates as a working member of the AC team and coordinates with and supports other departments in the spirit of overall success of Alvarado and the co-operative.


• Is a member of the Alvarado Street Bakery Product Recall Team and Food Safety Committee.


• Follows and enforces all company rules, policies and procedures.


• Performs other duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• This is an EXEMPT position where a 40 hour + work week is the expectation.


• The Purchasing Specialist is expected to be available and on call for emergencies at all times.


• Weekend work is not typical, but may be required as needed.


• Some travel and overnight stays may be required, such as auditing suppliers, trade events, vendor meetings and personal development opportunities.


• The position is a combination of in office and on the floor management. As such the environment requires a high degree of self-awareness to hazards that may exist in the workplace.

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least five (5) years of industry experience in procurement practices. Working knowledge of the industry suppliers relevant to Alvarado Street Bakery’s business platform.


• Skilled in ERP and Food Safety Systems applications as they relate to inventory management, purchasing and quality data maintenance.


• Experienced in the development of budgets and cost management procedures.


• An effective communicator both inside and outside of the organization, able to express ideas and reports effectively either orally or in writing.


• Skilled on the elements of Microsoft Office and other software programs as required.