Buyer at Medosweet Farms in Kent, WA

Description of Company

Medosweet's Mission is to create an Exceptional Customer Experience through Employee Teaming, Innovative Technology, and Fresh New Customer offerings while Honoring our Founders core values of recognizing Employees, Customers, Community, and Faith in the conduct of our company.

Medosweet's Vision is Providing Best in Class Service while treating All Employees and Customers like Family.

Position Summary

The Buyer is responsible for procuring and managing assigned fresh, chilled, frozen, and perishable food products to ensure product availability, customer satisfaction, and company profitability. This role owns supplier relationships, inventory planning, purchasing execution, cost management, and cross-functional communication. The Buyer is expected to operate independently, anticipate business risks, and provide proactive solutions while supporting Medosweet's culture of accountability and teamwork.

Essential Functions

• Manage purchasing activities for assigned product categories.
• Place accurate purchase orders within required lead times.
• Maintain optimal inventory while minimizing spoilage and out-of-stocks.
• Forecast demand using historical trends, sales forecasts, seasonality, and market conditions.
• Develop and maintain supplier relationships while negotiating pricing, service levels, and programs.
• Resolve supplier quality, service, pricing, and delivery issues.
• Coordinate with Sales, Warehouse, Transportation, Customer Service, Operations, and Accounting.
• Maintain accurate ERP purchasing records and documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen supplier performance.
• Ability to balance tasks and workload and continuously reassess priorities in a fluid, fast-paced environment.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• 0% minimum Fill Rate.
• Product Spoilage maintained at or below 0.20% of Cost of Goods Sold.
• 100% Supplier Cost Recovery for supplier-caused defects, shortages, damages, and quality issues not caused by Medosweet.
• Timely and accurate purchase order placement.
• Proactive communication of inventory and supply risks.

Professional Expectations

• Demonstrate ownership and accountability for assigned categories.
• Communicate potential issues before they impact customers or operations.
• Present solutions, not simply problems.
• Consistently meet deadlines and follow through on commitments.
• Work collaboratively as a team player across all departments.
• Maintain professional relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum three (3) years of food service procurement experience with fresh, chilled, frozen, and/or perishable food products.
• Experience in supplier management, inventory planning, and purchasing.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel and ERP system experience.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, or related field.
• Dairy, refrigerated food, or commodity purchasing experience.
• Professional purchasing or supply chain certification (CPSM, CSCP, APICS) preferred.

Physical & Work Environment

• Monday-Friday onsite position.
• Frequent interaction with refrigerated and frozen warehouse environments.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
• May require extended hours during supply disruptions or business needs.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Sick Leave
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Profit Sharing
• Six Paid Holidays annually