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