Buyer, Direct Materials

Florida Crystals is a leading domestic sugar producer and North America's first fully integrated cane sugar company, guiding our sugar from farm to table. We are America's first and only producer of certified organic sugar, grown and harvested in the United States. Our renewable energy facility is the largest of its kind in North America and provides clean energy that powers our sugar operations, which helps us reduce our use of fossil fuels.

Florida Crystals also sustainably farms rice, sweet corn and other vegetables in rotation with our sugarcane. Our rice mill is the only rice mill in Florida.

Under general guidance of the Manager, Direct Materials, the Direct Material Buyer supports assigned categories within packaging, ingredients, and/or process chemicals by independently sourcing materials, maintaining vendor relationship management, contract & project management, and management of suppliers. The Direct Materials Buyer must have a solid understanding and demonstrated ability to complete analysis of assigned categories by producing relevant metrics and generating SAP reports as well as the ability to make sound business decisions.

The Direct Materials Buyer will work in a collaborative team environment and is responsible for maintaining positive business relationships with both internal and external customers.

• Responsible for processing a high volume of requisitions from multiple sites under assigned categories
• Prepares and coordinates agreements for assigned commodities and/or services
• Utilizes the company ERP system to run complex reports and perform analytics
• Releases orders in a timely fashion while closely adhering to established company guidelines
• Independently negotiates contracts, price, and supplier agreements
• Evaluates, qualifies, and selects suppliers based on quality, service, cost and capability
• Ensures all agreements, purchases, and initiatives comply with established department policies and procedures
• Stays abreast of current marketplace trends in price, suppliers, and/or other conditions affecting business in assigned categories
• Maintains confidentiality of proprietary business information at all times
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Manage and negotiate annual pricing agreements and contractual needs, specifications, payment terms, product delivery
• Participate in leverage cost and technology advances and supplier responsiveness
• Utilizes the company ERP system to run complex reports and perform analytics
• Ability to successfully negotiate price, terms, delivery, and volume levels with suppliers
• Contributing to the development and presentation of market-competitive category management strategies covering the assigned sub-categories and commodity groups
• Contribute to the Procurement team's performance against departmental and internal customer KPIs and SLAs
• Efficient execution of all purchasing standard operating procedures to secure materials and services to meet the needs of the business
• Building and maintaining collaborative relationships between the Procurement team and its internal customers, that provide for appropriate levels of service and support being maintained and for priorities being addressed
• Development of subject-matter expertise for the assigned commodities and sub-categories, employing analysis of supply markets & trends data
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with internal and external members of the Supply Chain as well as present information in a clear and concise manner to all audience levels up to C-suite
• Completes special projects as assigned

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university plus 2-5 years of applicable Purchasing experience
• Degree major in Supply Chain, Business, or related field is preferred but not required
• At least 2 years of experience utilizing an ERP system (Buying, Researching, Reporting, etc.)

• None

• Strong analytical and numeracy skills, combined with advanced Excel and IT skills
• SAP experience strongly preferred
• Knowledge of Purchasing practices and legislation, especially within the Food & Beverage industry
• Strong negotiation & influencing skills
• Commercially astute
• Results driven, combined with positive attitude, high level of energy, passion and enthusiasm
• High level of emotional intelligence and strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Ability to:
  • Understand internal demands as they relate to the purchases of goods and services for the business
  • Communicate in a clear and concise manner both verbally and in writing
  • Analyze complex information and perform root cause analysis
• Recognize areas for Continuous Improvement strategies; recommend and implement CI strategies as assigned
• Provide excellent customer service to both internal and external customers and foster strong, open lines of…