Purchasing Agent / Buyer

Position Summary

The Purchasing Analyst / Buyer at Michael Lewis Company is responsible for procuring products that support airline, food service, and hospitality customers. This role blends day‑to‑day purchasing execution with analytical review of demand, inventory, and supplier performance. The position plays a critical role in ensuring product availability, cost control, and service continuity in a fast‑paced, customer‑driven environment.

The ideal candidate is an experienced Buyer who enjoys using data to make smarter purchasing decisions. This is not a transactional purchasing role—we're looking for someone who can analyze customer demand, forecast inventory needs, identify purchasing trends, and proactively manage inventory levels while maintaining strong supplier relationships.

You should be comfortable owning the purchasing process from demand analysis through purchase order creation, supplier follow-up, and product receipt.

Key Responsibilities

• Place and manage purchase orders for food, disposables, equipment, and related supply chain items supporting MLCo customer programs
• Analyze demand forecasts, usage trends, and inventory levels to support accurate purchasing and replenishment decisions
• Collaborate with internal teams including operations, customer service, logistics, finance, and account management to align purchasing with customer requirements
• Manage supplier relationships, including pricing, lead times, service performance, and issue resolution
• Monitor deliveries, resolve shortages or variances, and support urgent or time‑sensitive purchase needs
• Ensure purchase pricing, terms, and agreements are accurately maintained within ERP systems
• Investigate and resolve invoice discrepancies related to pricing, quantities, freight, or terms
• Support sourcing initiatives, including supplier evaluations, cost‑saving opportunities, and contract compliance
• Prepare and analyze reports related to inventory turns, supplier performance, spend analysis, and purchasing KPIs
• Maintain accurate purchasing documentation, item master data, and supplier records
• Spot irregularities in ordering patterns and collaborate with customer facing teams to resolve
• Assist with continuous improvement initiatives to enhance purchasing processes, controls, and efficiency
• Systematically analyze vendor FOB price vs delivered landed price. Utilize logistics department to arrive at lowest landed cost
• Ensure compliance with company policies, internal controls, and audit requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business, Finance, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 2–5 years of experience in a Buyer, Purchasing, or Procurement role where you were directly responsible for inventory analysis, purchasing decisions, supplier management, and purchase order execution. Experience purchasing food, beverage, or other consumable products is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing inventory, customer demand, purchasing trends, and supplier performance to make data-driven purchasing decisions.
• Experience working with ERP systems 
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills are required, including experience using Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, and data analysis tools to support purchasing decisions. 
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work cross‑functionally and manage external supplier relationships
• Detail‑oriented with strong organizational and time‑management skills
• Ability to adapt and respond effectively in a fast‑paced, customer‑driven environment
• Must be able to multitask and self-prioritize tasks in order of importance
• Ability to work independently and to carry out assignments to completion within parameters of instructions given

Core Competencies

• Inventory and demand planning
• Supplier relationship management
• Cost analysis and negotiation support
• Problem‑solving and root‑cause analysis
• Professional judgment and accountability
• Continuous improvement mindset