Purchasing Agent

POSITION SUMMARY

The Purchasing Agent is responsible for sourcing, negotiation, contracting, cost control, inventory management, and other procurement functions for designated product categories. Execute and enforce purchase agreements, including monitoring supplier floor stock, updating pricing changes, and sourcing supply for marketing activities. Maintain regular communication with suppliers and/or distributors, ensuring compliance with purchase agreements in terms of cost, quality, product specification and inventory. Additional responsibilities include ad hoc analysis, reporting and communication via presentations to management.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

May perform any or all of the following duties:

• Completes documented RFP solicitation process, obtain and analyze competitive bids from suppliers, conduct negotiations on pricing, manufacturing capacity, quality compliance, inventory levels to be maintained and product lead times for assigned categories. Makes recommendation based on supplier best meeting all attributes. Pricing often times developed with formula cost models.
• Develops agreements that include key categories, documenting negotiated terms from the solicitation process. Manages the process of fully executing agreements in a timely fashion.
• Manages supplier relationships to support corporate goals and resolve product or supplier issues to ensure satisfaction and positive resolutions.
• Ensures suppliers submit accurate and timely price changes in accordance with agreements, and that pricing is communicated accurately and timely to distribution partners. Ensures suppliers' production meets the needs of the company.
• Develops relationships with applicable supplier that creates a high level of collaboration and performance against delivery dates, technical problems, material deviations, damage claims, etc. Works closely with Quality Control, Culinary Innovation, and Inventory Management to overcome obstacles.
• Support Marketing initiatives that include limited time offers (LTOs) and new menu offerings by identifying suppliers, forecasting needs, and managing supplier inventory.
• Participates in developing procurement strategies including requirements planning, alternate sourcing, timing of purchasing, inventory level adjustments, etc.
• Make recommendations for responsible commodities, communicating approved positions and provides routine position variance reporting.
• Participates in the establishment of a company-wide food cost budget. Evaluates and analyzes previous contracts, performs market research to establish pricing trends, and investigates market conditions.
• Participates in company meetings, webinars and conference calls.
• Available as daily resource for corporate personnel, company operators and franchise operators as needed for product specification, product sourcing, product review, product pricing, product lead time, product warranty, service, problem resolution, etc.
• Other duties and/or special projects as assigned in response to changing business conditions and/or requirements

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS/CORE COMPETENCIES

• Must possess approximately three (3) years of any combination of experience and/or education that demonstrates a commanding knowledge of food purchasing responsibility, preferably foodservice.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business or a related field preferred.
• Working knowledge of product specifications and distribution.
• Strong background in analysis both quantitative and qualitative.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to communicate effectively with all levels of management both internally and externally
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail and can identify and implement process improvement strategies with positive business results.
• Strong work ethic; commitment to seeing duties completed to a high standard of quality.
• Consistently exercises independent judgment and discretion in matters of significance.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Restaurant Support Center that is a fast paced, high volume of activity and a deadline driven environment

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Constant interaction with internal and external partners by phone and/or electronic communications
• Sitting for extended periods of time, using telephone, typing and/or operating a computer and/or mouse
• Travel as needed, approximately ten percent (10)%

THE COMPANY RETAINS THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR ASSIGN OTHER DUTIES TO THIS POSITION AS DEEMED APPROPRIATE WITH OR WITHOUT NOTICE