Buyer - Food Ingredients

Location: Missouri, USA
Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Industry: Food Ingredients Manufacturing

About the Opportunity

We are representing an established food ingredients manufacturer seeking an experienced Buyer to join its procurement and supply chain team in Missouri.

This position will play a key role in managing the sourcing and purchasing of raw materials and ingredients, maintaining supplier relationships, and ensuring the consistent availability of materials to support manufacturing operations.

The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of procurement within the food ingredients industry, with the ability to balance cost, quality, availability, and supplier performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the purchasing and procurement of raw materials, food ingredients, packaging, and other production-related materials.

• Source, evaluate, and develop relationships with domestic and international ingredient suppliers.

• Negotiate pricing, contracts, lead times, and commercial agreements to ensure competitive purchasing.

• Work closely with production, quality assurance, R&D, and supply chain teams to ensure materials meet operational and quality requirements.

• Monitor raw material inventory levels, purchasing forecasts, and production requirements to maintain continuity of supply.

• Identify and qualify new suppliers while maintaining strong relationships with existing partners.

• Manage purchase orders, track deliveries, and resolve supplier-related issues.

• Monitor market trends, raw material pricing, and supply chain developments affecting ingredient availability.

• Support supplier qualification processes, ensuring materials comply with food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

• Identify cost-saving opportunities and support continuous improvement initiatives across procurement operations.

• Evaluate supplier performance in relation to quality, reliability, pricing, and delivery.

Candidate Requirements

• Previous experience in a Buyer, Purchasing Specialist, Procurement Specialist, or similar role within the food ingredients industry.

• Strong understanding of raw material sourcing, ingredient procurement, and supplier management.

• Experience working with food ingredient manufacturers or suppliers.

• Demonstrated experience negotiating supplier pricing, contracts, and purchasing agreements.

• Knowledge of food safety, quality standards, and regulatory considerations relevant to ingredient sourcing.

• Experience collaborating with manufacturing, production, quality, and supply chain teams.

• Familiarity with ERP systems, purchasing software, and Microsoft Excel.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

• Ability to manage multiple purchasing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

What This Opportunity Offers

• Opportunity to join an established organization operating within the food ingredients sector.

• Direct involvement in raw material procurement and strategic supplier relationships.

• Collaboration with manufacturing, quality, and supply chain functions.

• Opportunity to improve purchasing processes, strengthen supplier partnerships, and contribute to operational efficiencies.

• Long-term professional development within the food ingredients industry.

Interested?

If you have purchasing or procurement experience specifically within the food ingredients industry and are interested in exploring a new opportunity in Missouri, we would welcome a confidential conversation.