Purchasing Associate | Ingredient Purchasing Coordinator - Blue Star Partners LLC

Job Title: Purchasing Associate | Ingredient Purchasing Coordinator
Location: Columbus, OH – 100% Onsite – Local candidates only
Period: 07/22/2024 to 06/09/2025 – possibility of extension
Hours/Week: 40 hours (Hours over 40 will be paid at Time and a Half)
Rate: $17-$20/hour
Contract Type: W-2

Scope of Services:
The Purchasing Coordinator is responsible for sourcing and securing all agricultural and nutritional commodities required to support global manufacturing operations. Ingredient Procurement supports Manufacturing, R&D, Marketing, QA, Regulatory and other functions to ensure Company utilizes suppliers that meet or exceed our quality, service, and delivery expectations.

The Purchasing Coordinator serves as the primary Company contact for suppliers in performing the day‐to‐day activities necessary to procure commodities used by Company. All activities must adhere to Corporate Purchasing Policies and Division Purchasing Procedures. If procurement transactions are not completed successfully, timely delivery of materials is jeopardized. This can result in production risks, including but not limited to line shutdown, inadequate inventory, lost sales and project delays.

The Coordinator must possess analytical and problem‐solving skills and be able to make decisions quickly using sound judgment. The Coordinator demonstrates the ability to prioritize to enhance productivity and manage workload with minimal supervision. The Coordinator must understand inventory control and basic accounting principles. Because coordination is required among internal and external parties and often involves information of a confidential nature, excellent oral and written communication skills are required. 

Role, Responsibilities, and Deliverables:

• Approve invoices to be paid at or below $50 thousand per purchasing authority.
• Communicate continuously with external partners (Suppliers, Third Party Manufacturers, Freight Carriers) and internal departments, including but not limited to (Mfg. Plants, R&D, Production Planning, Engineering, Package Development, Label Control, Plant QA, Supplier QA, Regulatory Affairs, Accounts Payable, Cost Accounting, Logistics, Contract Mfg., Marketing, Import/Export and IT) to assure materials are delivered on time, at the right price, to the correct location, and according to company specifications.
• Create yearly blanket purchase orders for commodities supplied to company's domestic manufacturing plants and third‐party manufacturers.
• Generate forecasts for commodities purchased for the US and/or global operations. Perform comparative analysis on forecasts, actuals and contracts for global purchases to provide timely and comprehensive information about inventory, contract balances, and production changes. Offer recommendations to management to move volumes and/or increase contracts to avoid supply issues. Escalate issues suppliers may have about the forecasts.
• Ensure compliance to company policies and procedures and manage audit readiness metrics.
• Act as the liaison between company and suppliers when deliveries are late or on hold. Coordinate necessary actions to ensure material delivery, including expediting delivery from alternate sources.
• Verify that purchase order releases and requisitions reflect the proper price, based on current contracts.  Incorrect pricing leads to late invoice payment, which affects supplier relationships, company's credit standing, and potentially future deliveries of materials.
• When applicable, possess knowledge of external guidelines and various governmental agencies and processes. Utilize systems and resources to support clearance, delivery and compliance of international and domestic orders.
• Partner with suppliers to alleviate chronic delivery or quality problems. Work with the Procurement Mangers, manufacturing plants, company's supplier QA, other internal departments and suppliers to identify and implement solutions.
• Act as the liaison between Company Accounts Payable and suppliers on invoicing issues related to price invoiced and quantity delivered, and on receiving proper credit for returned materials.
• Manage communication with US and Global suppliers related to commodity qualifications, supplier expectations (including delivery) and ongoing performance related to nonconforming materials and special projects.
• Responsible for distribution of company policies related to key company initiatives and special informative letters as deemed by Corporate Policies, including department Supplier Diversity spend reporting and Supplier Risk.
• Under the direction of the Procurement Managers, execute and finalize Confidential Disclosure Agreements using standard templates approved by the company's legal team. Monitor compliance to key supply agreement provisions and Maintain supplier Insurance Certificates as required by company policy.
• Coordinate and administer globally the training for procurement personnel in all systems as well as roles and responsibilities.
• When appropriate, assemble bid packages and/or requests for quotes or proposals, distribute to suppliers and consolidate responses for review by the appropriate Procurement Manager. 

Experience & Skills:

• Four to six years of experience in a combination of Materials Management, Finance, Customer Service and/or Plant Operations, or a Bachelor’s Degree is required.
• Preferred
• Understand inventory control and basic accounting principles
• Compliance mindset, attention to detail and willingness to do what is right.
• Ability to build rapport and strong relationships with internal and external customers
• Manage challenging situations requiring continuous communication while maintaining a high degree of professionalism
• Technical aptitude with systems and a working knowledge of several software packages preferred, including: Qlickview, TeamCenter, Cognos (Report Writer), DevEx, Planview, Sharepoint: CDA Database, Specification Library Database, Team Sharepoint Page, SAP Applications: cVend, cMat, ACR, PIR, Source List, Value Contracts.