Senior Buyer, Packaging

Position title: Senior Buyer, Packaging - Americas

Reporting to: Category Manager, Packaging 

Location: Chicago, Illinois

About the role: 
Barry Callebaut is a global organization poised for growth; a company which has embraced the vision to delight its customers, while out-performing its competitors, and to engage its employees; a business which is passionate about its history, has innovation within its DNA, produces advanced technology solutions and is focused on being a world class player and Employer of Choice. If you thrive in a diverse environment, filled with individuals passionate about sustainability, servant leadership and, of course chocolate, then we want to hear from you!

The Senior Buyer, Packaging will be responsible for sourcing vendors, negotiating programs, planning timely purchases and managing competitive bid processes for assigned packaging categories required by Barry Callebaut’s North American facilities. The Senior Buyer will manage a commodity base consisting of multiple SKUs and establish and maintain supplier relationships both domestically and internationally. Strong analytical skills and logical thinking are essential. Must be able to make pragmatic decisions or recommendations based on best known information while under a sense of urgency umbrella.

Key responsibilities include: 

• Responsible for specific profit goals for the assigned categories.
• Work closely with the Regional Category Manager to make sure that purchasing goals are well achieved, according to defined strategies, business priorities, group policies and principles. 
• Ultimate responsibility for vendor service, material quality, and facility support for all purchasing activities regarding packaging materials.
• Generate and maintain all SAP contracts for each packaging component, focusing on Purchase to Pay optimization. This includes: ensuring purchasing catalogs/contract in SAP are kept up to date; investigating invoice discrepancies; driving discrepancy rates towards zero; ensuring negotiated vendor terms are accurately reflected on contracts; managing credit-hold risks.
• Monitor material order quantities to achieve the most favorable possible prices.
• Prepare, publish, administer and measure the results of formal tenders or RFPs.
• Analyze and source new solutions to identified opportunities.
• Monitor commodity and raw materials markets and correlate impacts on product pricing. 
• Work closely with R&D on packaging development and new supplier qualifications. 
• Develop a supply base that adheres to the organization’s Quality Assurance and Sustainability targets.
• Project manage the implementation of cost savings/cost optimization projects. 
• Lead meetings with both external and internal customers as well as with suppliers and pursue the assigned deliverables. 
• Travel as needed to company facilities, critical suppliers, and key customers.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree

Work Experience:

• 5 years of experience in Procurement or Sourcing in a similar role.
• Experience in the Manufacturing or Fast-Moving Consumer Goods industry.
• Experience working in a multi-plant environment.    

Additional Requirements:

• Exceptional analytical skills.
• Highly developed project management and influencing skills. 
• Experience working in a multi-plant environment.    
• Strong negotiation, problem-solving, and written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to:
  • Work independently, yet  be a strong team player
  • Prioritize and multitask in a fast-moving environment
  • Think strategically
• Working knowledge of SAP systems.
• Familiar with Supply Chain practices, demand management, and material planning tools.
• Spanish or French Fluency is an asset.
• Experience with flexible packaging is an asset.
• Experience working in a global organization is an asset.

What you can expect from Barry Callebaut:

• Competitive compensation package including salary, benefits, and vacation time
• Collaborative atmosphere with like-minded individuals who are passionate about chocolate
• The ability to grow your career within an organization that values development and internal career growth