Senior Purchasing Manager

Description

Position Overview

The Purchasing Manager is responsible for purchasing and planning across the company. This role forecasts supply needs through an understanding of the company’s inventory, demand, and lead times from vendors. This role requires keen negotiating skills, an eye for a deal, and a passion for sustainable sourcing.

The Purchasing Manager works closely with the company management to coordinate the delivery and storage of inventory, and to document the required information related to lot control, supplier verification, and food quality and safety programs. 

The Purchasing Manager supports a budget of more than $10M in annual purchases (primarily organic ingredients), and must diligently seek out purchases that at once meet Bread Alone values and quality standards, and support our long-term financial success. This role will work closely with a deep network of organic and regional suppliers that share in Bread Alone’s support of organic, regenerative agriculture. 

The Purchasing Manager, with support from the Supply Chain and Finance teams, manages the purchasing and leasing of company vehicles. This role will help analyze and make informed decisions about fleet spending by evaluating all expenses associated with acquiring, operating and maintaining a fleet over its lifecycle.

The Purchasing Manager must embrace Bread Alone’s commitment to the natural world through sourcing products that minimize carbon footprint, and that further Bread Alone’s core purpose of serving honest food, creating prosperity for our people, and minimizing harm to the planet.

The Purchasing Manager reports to the Director of Supply Chain and works closely with management across Bread Alone. 

Hours: This is a full-time position that is Monday-Friday. Standard working hours is 40-50 hours per week. Flex time adjustments will be required as needed, based on project work or to support the needs of the department. We strive to make schedules as manageable as possible to encourage and allow work-life balance.

Bread Alone's Worldview: Bread Alone Began in 1983 with simple intention: To feed people organic bread baked from a wood-fire brick oven. We run the bakery today with the optimistic belief that good food, an equitable economy and a healthy planet can thrive together. At the heart of our endeavors lies the profound belief that individuals are integral to every positive impact we make. Join us as we collectively strive for excellence in aligning our aspirations with meaningful actions.

Requirements

Duties and Responsibilities:

Duties, responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following:

• Oversee purchasing and inventory levels of all ingredients and smallwares necessary for production at our Certified Organic production bakery.
• Support purchasing and inventory levels for production at our carbon-neutral craft bakery in Boiceville.
• Play a key role in building, scaling and maintaining inventory management processes and systems that minimize COGs while supporting Bread Alone values, production, and food safety needs.
• Actively strengthen relationships with ingredient vendors and trades partners, focusing on organic, regional supplier networks.
• Apply competitive bidding and negotiation strategies to make fact-based purchasing decisions that reduce costs, maintain quality, and optimize warehouse space.
• Source ingredients and cultivate partnerships that support Bread Alone purpose, values, and culture.
• Make purchases that comply with all food safety regulations, certifications (including Organic, Kosher and SQF), and quality programs at the company. 
• Support the analysis and review of product costs, specifications, nutritional profiles, and labeling accuracy for all bread products.
• Maintain documentation and SOPs required to support our Food Safety and Quality program and our accounts payable activities.
• Regularly assess the performance of key strategic vendors, ensuring that contract terms are met, value is maximized, and relationships contribute positively to the overall purchasing strategy.
• Management of all purchases through the supply chain process including sourcing, purchase orders, freight, warehousing, production, and vendor payment.
• Manage the purchasing and leasing of delivery vehicles and assist the Supply Chain team with the administration of maintenance and repair services for the company fleet. 
• Coordinate the financial analysis and reporting for fleet management to provide a comprehensive view of fleet costs and performance.
• Contribute to a culture of data-informed decision-making by supporting th