Associate Buyer

The Associate Buyer will provide tactical support in the purchasing and distribution of raw materials, goods, and services for all Sargento manufacturing facilities. In accordance with established policies, controls, practices, and purchasing techniques, this employee will act as an agent for the company to procure materials, components, and supplies at the most favorable costs and terms consistent with standards of quality and manufacturing schedules. They will purchase in accordance with production/finished product requirements and maintain sufficient inventory of materials from outside vendors to ensure all requirements are met.Your Story. You will provide tactical support in the purchasing and distribution of raw materials, goods, and services for all Sargento manufacturing facilities. In accordance with established policies, controls, practices, and purchasing techniques, you will act as an agent for the company to procure materials, components, and supplies at the most favorable costs and terms consistent with standards of quality and manufacturing schedules. You will also purchase in accordance with production/finished product requirements and maintain sufficient inventory of materials from outside vendors to ensure all requirements are met.Your Passion. Our Culture. At Sargento, you work for a company you believe in, with a family of people who believe in you.  Our culture stems from a simple premise: Hire good people and treat them like family.  At Sargento, you can make decisions based on how they affect people as well as the long-term health of our company.  You will be encouraged to make a meaningful difference in the community, in the company and in your career.  With diverse experiences and tools to learn and develop, you can transform your aspirations into reality.  If you’re ready for the right place to belong and grow your career, you can find it here.Benefits That Set Us Apart.Comprehensive medical including Fertility, Adoption benefits, Dental, and Vision InsuranceRemote ½ day FridaysOnsite Health & Wellness CenterEmployer 401K contribution in the top 1% of the nationTuition AssistanceAccess to Employee Store What You Do.PlanningOriginate purchase orders and/or delivery schedules based on current or forecasted material demandExpedite outstanding purchase orders in accordance with production requirements and communicate with suppliers and/or internal partnersCommunicate any changes in expected delivery date, quantity, or location to Supply Partners in a timely mannerSupport sourcing events to drive cost savings, as directed by supervisorExpedite procurement of samples as communicated through sample request processObtain supplier documentation and pricing for samples and new raw materialsMaintain related documentation in PLM systemManagement SupportAssist in the development, on-boarding, and maintenance of vendors and materials to maximize the value of the relationship and to effect appropriate vendor involvement, improvement, and controlAssist in evaluating and measuring vendors against defined expectations and provide appropriate feedback to vendorsProvide sourcing support and cost optimization opportunities while working with Regulatory/Legal, Food Safety, R&D and Supply Quality to ensure suppliers and materials, services and goods meet the established quality standardsParticipate, plan, and organize supplier visits and extended trips by coordinating schedules between Sargento employees and suppliersWith the cooperation of Supply Quality, R&D, and Operations, follow up with suppliers in addressing material quality issues and implementing corrective action through the Quality Management SystemRepresent Procurement at a variety of internal meetings. Follow up with appropriate Procurement team members with updates and action items as neededProvide guidance for disposal of surplus and defective materials, along with those managed via the discontinuation processUtilize strong computer skills to assemble, compile, and analyze data. Create spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations as directedYour Education And Experience.Associate's degree in Supply Chain or related business or technical field required. Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university preferred.Zero to two years of relevant experience in Procurement, Logistics, or other related Supply Chain role required.Strong computer skills are necessary, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook. SAP skills are helpful, but not required.Due to extensive communication with suppliers and internal customers; good interpersonal, problem solving, and reasoning skills are required. Our Story. With over 2,400+ employees and net sales of nearly $1.8 billion, Sargento is a family-owned company that has been a leader in cheese for more than 70 years.  We created the world’s first, successful pre-packaged sliced and shredded natural cheeses.  Sargento is based in Plymouth, Wisconsin, where we manufacture and market shredded, sliced and snack natural cheese products, as well as ingredients and sauces.  Sargento is known for the exceptional quality of our products and for product design, packaging and merchandising innovations that have transformed our industry.To learn more about our culture and values, please visit our website at https://careers.sargento.com/us/en.Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with DisabilitiesThis employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.