Field Supply Chain Specialist at Portillo's in Oak Brook, IL

Summary: Portillo's is a restaurant company seeking a Field Supply Chain Specialist to manage and support supply chain execution across its restaurants. This role involves acting as a liaison between restaurant teams, distribution partners, and the internal Supply Chain team to ensure timely product delivery and resolve operational issues. Responsibilities: - Act as the primary liaison, independently managing relationships and exercising discretion in day-to-day support to restaurant operators, overseeing day-to-day distribution, inventory and supply chain support to ensure operational continuity - Build strong working relationships with restaurant teams, distribution partners, and suppliers to support alignment and timely issue resolution - Partner with Supply Chain and Distribution team members to identify, advance and support operational priorities and restaurant needs - Coordinate with distribution partners to minimize and address product availability issues, delivery disruptions and product quality concerns - Manage and maintain electronic order guides and related item master data within Supply Chain systems - Serve as subject matter expert for the inventory management system, including forecasting, data validation, suggestive ordering, recipe depletion and troubleshooting - Provide system support to ensure accurate food cost reporting and timely invoice processing - Build, generate, analyze and maintain reports to inform decision-making and recommend improvements with inventory accuracy, product quality and restaurant performance - Monitor Supply Chain performance metrics and evaluate trends to inform operational decisions such as inventory accuracy, product availability and order fulfillment to help support restaurant operators - Investigate inventory discrepancies and determine root cause using critical thinking and independent judgement and collaborate with restaurant operators, distributors and suppliers as applicable to resolve issues - Validate vendor statements and support Accounts Payable systems imports - Own the management and resolution of product quality complaints received through the QuickBase reporting platform - Lead the recordkeeping function for system processes, including maintaining documentation of item setup workflows and recipe management - Manage inventory system set up for new restaurant openings, including sales imports, vendor assignment and order guide creation - Actively monitor inbound requests from the restaurant operators, team members, suppliers, distributors and internal teams (via calls, emails, QuickBase), apply judgment to determine requests requiring escalation and subject matter expertise and critical thinking to resolve issues in a timely manner - Support supply chain execution for new menu items, limited time offers and product transitions by executing system updates and distribution readiness - Lead non-routine distribution coordination to support holidays and special events - Respond quickly to time-sensitive operational issues while prioritizing and exercising judgement across competing demands - Lead inventory management system training course for new restaurant team orientations - Identify and recommend opportunities to improve reporting, data accuracy, and supply chain processes and share recommendations with the Supply Chain team - Other duties as assigned Required Qualifications: - Bachelor's Degree in business or related field preferred - 1-3 years' experience in Supply Chain, Operations, Customer Service or related field - Proficiency in MS Office; NBO/NCR/Crunch Time experience a plus - Ability to exercise independent judgement and make prudent business decisions with limited direction - Strong communication and customer service skills - Analytical mindset with strong organizational and decision-making skills - Ability to problem solve, think strategically and execute tactically - Resilient, adaptable, detail oriented and eager to learn Preferred Qualifications: - Experience in customer service, supply chain, inventory management or multi-unit restaurant operations preferred Required Skills: Supply Chain, Operations, Inventory Management, MS Office, NBO, NCR, Crunch Time, Multi-unit Restaurant Operations, Customer Service, Analytical Mindset, Decision Making, Strategic Thinking Benefits: Participation in a discretionary bonus program based on company and individual performance, among other ingredients, A monthly technology reimbursement, Quarterly Portillo’s gift cards, A bun-believable benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance along with paid time off, life insurance, and our 401(k) plan with a company match