Job Title

Plant Buyer – Supply Chain

FLSA Classification

Salary, Exempt

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position.

Direct Supervisor

Director of Supply Chain

Position Summary

The Plant Buyer is responsible for managing all on-site purchasing activity and serving as the primary liaison between the plant team and supplier base. This role owns the full purchasing execution process — from sourcing and supplier relationship management to delivery oversight and cost accountability — ensuring production has what it needs to run without interruption. The Plant Buyer maintains a consistent presence on the production floor and dock, builds strong working relationships across departments, and is accountable for the accuracy and performance of all purchasing activity within the facility.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Execute purchase orders for all production inputs (raw materials, ingredients, and packaging) on a weekly cadence against the supply plan
Own every open PO from issuance through receipt, actively expediting supplier delivery issues before they impact production
Coordinate inbound freight and dock scheduling, including carrier pickups, delivery appointments, and receiving windows with Operations
Manage site consumables end-to-end, including supplies, smallwares, and MRO, from sourcing through receipt
Maintain accuracy of all item, supplier, and pricing data within the ERP/MRP system
Serve as the first point of contact for receiving discrepancies — short shipments, damaged goods, or off-spec deliveries — and own resolution directly with the supplier
Support the 2027 ERP implementation from the plant purchasing side, ensuring all purchasing workflows, supplier data, and receiving processes are documented and ready for go-live
Build and maintain strong working relationships with the Production Planner, Supply Chain Planner, and Sandusky Operations team
Coordinate regularly with the Corporate Buyer on packaging and enterprise purchasing activity

Required Qualifications & Skills

2–4 years of purchasing or buying experience in a manufacturing environment
Hands-on PO management experience — issuing, tracking, expediting, and closing a high volume of purchase orders
Solid Excel skills, including SUMIFS, filters, and spreadsheet-based data management used as daily tools
Ability to work directly and effectively with plant operations teams in an on-site, embedded role

Strong follow-through and sense of urgency — supplier and receiving issues are resolved proactively, not reactively
Clear, trust-building communication with floor-level operations staff and cross-functional partners

Desired Qualifications & Traits

Experience in food, CPG, or similarly fast-moving production environments
Familiarity with ERP or MRP purchasing modules, particularly ahead of a system implementation
Experience managing MRO or site consumables purchasing
Self-starter who can take full ownership of a weekly PO cycle without escalation for routine orders
Detail-oriented approach to master data — committed to keeping supplier, item, and pricing records clean and current
Collaborative working style with the ability to build a tight alignment with planning and supply chain partners

Physical Requirements

· Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds

· Ability to work in a production/manufacturing environment, which may include varying temperatures and noise levels.

· Must be able to wear required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for long periods of time, which may include hair/beard nets, gloves, safety glasses, steel-toed shoes, hearing protection, lab coats, or protective outerwear.

Ability to stand, walk, bend, and operate material handling equipment throughout the shift

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Learn more about this Employer on their Career Site