Buyer, Manufacturing ​/ Production

Job Description:
Buyer
Position Overview

The Buyer position plays a key role in procurement activities, ensuring consistent, cost‑effective sourcing of raw materials required for customer-owned formulations and production schedules. This role works closely with Operations, Quality, R&D, Supply Chain, and Customer Account teams to maintain supply continuity, support customer-specific formulations, and uphold safety and regulatory compliance standards unique to the pet food industry.

Raw Material Procurement

• Source and purchase pet food raw materials such as proteins, meals, grains, functional ingredients, supplements, and vitamins.
• Conduct supplier evaluations focused on ingredient quality, traceability, safety certifications, and overall performance.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, and supply agreements while maintaining market competitiveness.

Supplier Management & Quality Alignment

• Partner with QA to ensure all suppliers meet industry standards and food safety requirements.
• Maintain documentation including COAs, SDS, specifications, and traceability + origin data (e.g., animal proteins).
• Monitor supplier OTIF, quality issues, service levels, and overall reliability.

Inventory & Material Planning

• Maintain proper inventory levels for raw materials with variable shelf-life constraints (e.g., fats, fresh meats, premixes).
• Adjust purchasing strategy based on production forecasts, customer demand, seasonality, and raw material market fluctuations.
• Collaborate with the scheduling team to manage long-lead materials, frozen/fresh ingredient deliveries, and JIT supply needs.
• Optimize inventory to minimize obsolescence, shrink, and disposal costs.

Cost Management & Budgeting

• Lead cost-reduction initiatives that do not compromise nutrition, palatability, or product quality.
• Track ingredient market trends (e.g., protein markets, grain pricing, oils & fats) to anticipate cost impacts.
• Support new product launches with cost modeling and supplier quoting.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work with R&D and Quality on ingredient sourcing for new formulas and reformulations.
• Partner with Operations to anticipate material bottlenecks and ensure continuous production flow.
• Communicate material risks or delays to Customer Account teams and develop alternatives or contingency plans.

Systems, Reporting & Compliance

• Use ERP/MRP systems to maintain accurate material master data, lead times, MOQs, and pricing.
• Ensure traceability requirements are met for all raw materials, particularly proteins and animal-derived ingredients.
• Support regulatory documentation needs for audits and customer requirements.
• Track KPIs such as cost savings, PO cycle time, supplier performance, and inventory turns.

Required

• 5+ years of purchasing or supply chain experience in manufacturing
  , ideally with exposure to food or pet food.
• Strong negotiation skills and previous supplier management responsibility.
• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems and strong Excel skills.
• Knowledge of food/pet food safety requirements or willingness to learn industry regulations.

Preferred

• Direct experience in pet food
  , food manufacturing, or ingredient procurement.
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks (AAFCO, FDA/FSMA, USDA handling guidelines, HACCP, GMP).
• Certifications such as CPSM, CPIM, CSCP, or SQF Practitioner background.
• Experience managing protein markets, agricultural commodities, or custom nutritional blends.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, customer-driven environment
• Excellent relationship-building and communication
• Negotiation and strategic sourcing capability
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational discipline
• Continuous improvement mindset

Barrett Petfood is committed to a safe workplace for all of our employees.

In connection with your employment with the Company, notice is hereby given that a consumer report and/or investigative consumer report may be obtained from a consumer reporting agency for employment purposes. These reports may contain information about your character, general reputation, personal characteristics and mode of living, whichever are applicable. They may involve personal interviews with sources such as your neighbors, friends or associates.

The reports may also contain information about you relating to your criminal history, credit history, driving and/or motor vehicle records, education or employment history or other background checks. You have the right, upon written request made within a reasonable time after the receipt of this notice, to request disclosure of the nature and scope of any investigative consumer report. The scope of this notice and authorization is not limited to the present and, if you are hired, will continue throughout the course of your employment and allow the Company to conduct future screenings for retention, promotion or reassignment, as permitted by law unless revoked by you in writing.