Senior Equipment Purchasing Specialist

Sr. Equipment Purchasing Specialist

Yakima, WA

Advancing the Future of Freshness™, Together

AgroFresh is a fast-moving, dynamic company dedicated to delivering integrated near- and post-harvest solutions for more freshness and quality, every step of the way from harvest to home. From next-gen digital monitoring and analytics and plant-based coatings to integrated fungicide solutions and SO2 generating sheets for more intelligent packaging, you can count on us for a full suite of near- and post-harvest solutions that help enhance quality and extend the shelf life of your fruits and vegetables.

When you work at AgroFresh, you work with the leading experts in near- and post-harvest technologies to proactively solve the most pressing challenges. Imagine a world where the produce supply chain has more time every step of the way. Where products get to consumers exactly as the grower intended. Where food loss is minimized, sustainability maximized, and business empowered. This is the world of Smarter Freshness.

What The Role Delivers

This role is responsible for the procurement, inventory management and documentation processes to ensure the proper supply of components, parts and supplies necessary to support the field equipment/engineering departments of AgroFresh through the use of company policies, purchasing strategies and the management of supplier relationships. This role assures economical procurement of materials as well as the timely planning, control and delivery of materials required to meet company objectives. Supports all departments and locations with issuing CAPEX purchase orders and tracking actual expenses against the CAPEX approved amount

Key Responsibilities

In order of relative importance

• Purchasing
• Place purchase orders with suppliers and follow up on orders placed to ensure accurate and timely delivery for multiple locations and departments.
• Verify deliveries and ensure documentation is uploaded to SAP properly
• Support field engineering group in identification of qualified suppliers by working with suppliers to determine factors that affect prices and determines lowest cost consistent with quality, reliability and ability to meet required schedules.
• Compile information to keep informed on price trends and manufacturing processes to be able to support review of vendor proposals and negotiate vendor pricing
• Work with finance to develop cost standards and analyze variances to standard.
• Issue annual blanket purchase orders for recurring services based on data supplied from the cost center managers.
• Asset Management
• Establish inventory control process for equipment/engineering group
• Reduce scrap losses and wasted spend
• Maintain and updates Access database with customer data from delivery tickets.
• Annually provide sales with customer usage reports from Access database.
• Provides monthly inventory value of Union Gap equipment to finance.
• Process & Documentation Support
• Facilitate communication among multiple locations and departments
• Assist equipment/engineering group to develop and implement improved paperwork process flow.
• Provide asset tag documentation to finance for equipment builds.
• Review CAPEX proposals with field group prior to submission for approval.
• Track CAPEX actual to project and budget approvals for all departments and locations.
• Arrange logistics for items being shipped by common carrier
• Provide reclass data to finance for movement materials to customer specific locations or equipment builds.
• Ships reagents and probes to outside location or directly to customers as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.
  

Who To Work With

Primary internal and external stakeholders

• Field Service & Engineering Teams
• Production, Supply chain
• Relevant 3rd Party Partners
  
  

How We Work

AgroFresh core competencies – those in italics apply for people leaders

• Accountability for Results
• Mindset for Growth
• Customer Centricity
• One AgroFresh
  
  

What The Job Requires

• A Bachelor degree or equivalent (minimum 5-7 years) work experience.
• Experience with SAP
  
  

What To Have Done And Know How To Do

These skills and experiences are highly desirable; however, they do not preclude exceptions based on an individual’s performance history and demonstrated potential.

• Negotiation skills
• Working knowledge of Excel
• Working knowledge of systems supporting manufacturing, inventory, and cost accounting.
• Experience in manufacturing, planning, warehousing and distribution.
• Strong professional interpersonal, verbal, and written skills when interacting with all levels of the organization and external contacts and the ability to question appropriately
• Demonstrated ability to add organization to complex activities
• Demonstrated ability to work with as part of a team with people at various levels of professional experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal direct functional supervision
• Other desirable skills include: Project Management, analytical and conceptual skills; “can do” attitude, attention to detail, problem solve
  
  

Why Work Here

• We work every day to improve the quantity and quality of fresh produce and reduce food waste – that is important to every person on the planet!
• We have a rich history and are known for our quality products.
• We have an enterprising spirit and are looking for like-minded problem-solvers to help us accomplish our goals.
• We focus on the Critical Few priorities that are important for us and our customers and then hold ourselves accountable to deliver.
• We are growing and transforming – both our business and the industry.
• We are committed to developing our colleagues and helping you advance in your career.
• We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages.