JOB# 1

 FRIENDLY’S ICE CREAM  - WILBRAHAM, MA - JOB POSTING

POSITION: Senior Buyer – Raw Materials 

JOB SUMMARY:    This position will develop and implement sourcing strategies for packaging and raw material ingredients.  Responsible for buying packaging consisting of paperboard and plastics, and raw material ingredients consisting of liquid dairy & sweeteners, fruit purees, variegates nutmeats, stabilizers, cocoa powders, chocolate chips, colorings and flavorings.  Some travel is required as vendor plant visits are an integral part of gaining a working knowledge of product quality and vendor operations.  Strategies developed and utilized must be in line with and support Friendly’s overall objectives to build the brand, drive out costs, and procure the right quality products for the right price, thereby delivering value and high end customer experience to our retail, restaurant and manufacturing vendors and customers.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

·         Develop sourcing strategies to meet/exceed specification, continue best practices to procure all bulk dairy products, raw material packaging, including bulk ice cream containers, product shippers, cake boxes, sundae cups, sqround packaging, roll packaging, and quart containers and various manufacturing ingredients, including bulk sweeteners, cocoa powders, chocolate pieces, fruit purees, colorings, flavorings, and stabilizers.  Negotiate short-term or long-term contracts based on fixed or formula pricing, keep suppliers informed regarding projected volumes.  Work closely with Production Planning and Retail Sales to ensure continuous supply of above critical products as well as graphics changes and new packaging formats.  Work closely with Product Development and Marketing to source items for new product development, and work on cost optimization projects regarding various identified raw material ingredients.

·         Monthly, forecast costs for all items through the end of the year.  Annually, compute and input budget costs on all items for the following fiscal year.   As part of budget process, explain year-over-year changes in costs.  Provide backup information and support as necessary.  Monthly and as requested, explain any and all purchase cost variances to standard, budget, and prior year, on both purchase and freight cost.

  ·         Draft and implement formal RFQ’s and RFP’s by product category (dairy, sweeteners, ingredients, corrugated, SBS packaging, cake boxes, film/tape).  Ensure that Non-disclosure paperwork is filled out and executed by both parties before information is shared.  Provide information and samples of existing product to vendors, as necessary.

·         Responsible to support manufacturing in vendor claims and vendor relations. Manages the vendor claims and coordinates the data components for the claim. Supports improvement of current ingredient/packaging initiated by manufacturing and distribution. (i.e. case quantities, pail to drum conversions, shrink wrap thickness, etc.)

 STRONGLY PREFERRED EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

·         Bachelor’s degree with 5-7 years of direct procurement experience in a manufacturing environment. Experience with direct purchasing responsibility for products including dairy & sweeteners and ingredients to produce consumable products.  Knowledge of various raw ingredient commodity markets:  dairy, sugar, corn and cocoa, as well as the requirements of IMS, milk grades, specifications and kosher.  Thorough knowledge of packaging made from SBS or other paperboard, corrugated, tapes, films, and plastic pails.  Knowledge of packaging industry & item pricing, including understanding of underlying paperboard/resin base mkts. & impact of pricing. 

·         Working knowledge of planning, forecasting, and purchase price variance and impact.

·         Demonstrated proficiency of Microsoft Office, ability to learn new or unique/custom software systems.

·         Self-starter with excellent prioritization skills, ability to multi-task, switch gears readily, pick up new projects while keeping existing projects in motion.  Candidate must interact with others, function as part of a team, build relationships, possess strong negotiation skills, excellent analytical and communication skills (verbal/written).  Ability to interact comfortably with all levels in the organization, across all departments.  Individual’s approach must be tactful, deliver news in a factual, non-confrontational way at any level. 

Please submit a cover letter and resume to hr@friendlys.com with JOB CODE reference:  DJ-PMAWNE-SL.

Thank you,

Suzanne J. Laporte

Recruitment & Retention Manager

Friendly's Ice Cream LLC

1855 Boston Road, Wilbraham, MA  01095

Phone:  413-731-4064

Cell:  413-813-7586

Fax:  413- 731-4472

Suzanne.Laporte@Friendlys.com