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BUYER II

Capitol Food Company, Cerritos, CA, United States


Buyer II – Commodity & Contract Management
Location:

Cerritos, CA 90703

Salary Range:

$85,000.00 - $100,000.00

Position Overview
The Buyer II (Senior Buyer) is responsible for end-to-end management of assigned ingredient categories, with a primary focus on commodity-based sourcing and contract execution. This role leads supplier strategy, negotiates commercial terms, and ensures contract alignment with business demand across manufacturing and distribution operations.

The ideal candidate brings strong market awareness of commodity-driven categories and can translate supply/demand dynamics into effective sourcing strategies, while maintaining rigorous contract governance and supplier accountability.

Core Responsibilities
Commodity & Category Management

Own assigned ingredient categories, managing sourcing strategy across commodity driven markets.

Monitor market trends, cost drivers, and supply dynamics to inform purchasing decisions and pricing strategies.

Develop and execute sourcing plans that balance cost, service, and risk mitigation.

Identify and qualify alternative supply sources to ensure continuity and competitiveness.

Contract Management & Execution

Lead administration of supplier contracts, including pricing structures, volumes, lead times, and service expectations.

Ensure alignment between supplier contracts and customer demand (contracted and noncontracted business).

Track contract balances, usage rates, and expiration timelines to prevent supply gaps or excess exposure.

Coordinate contract execution across internal stakeholders, ensuring adherence to terms and timely replenishment.

Procurement Operations & Planning

Translate demand signals (forecast, sales, production) into actionable purchasing plans.

Ensure all confirmed pricing updates are reflected in ERP and communicated to relevant stakeholders to maintain financial accuracy and margin integrity.

Monitor supplier order confirmations to ensure alignment with purchase orders, including quantity, timing, and pricing, to support accurate and timely 3-way match (PO, receipt, invoice) processes.

Proactively resolve discrepancies between PO and supplier confirmations, partnering with AP and operations to prevent invoice holds and payment delays.

Manage inventory positions to support service levels while minimizing excess and obsolescence.

Ensure purchase orders are placed accurately and in alignment with contractual obligations and lead times.

Proactively manage and resolve supply disruptions, short shipments, and service failures.

Supplier Relationship Management

Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships to support long-term continuity and cost competitiveness.

Conduct regular supplier performance reviews, focusing on service, quality, and responsiveness.

Lead price alignment discussions with suppliers when confirmation pricing deviates from contracted or expected terms, including negotiating adjustments due to market-driven increases or errors.

Partner with suppliers on continuous improvement, risk mitigation, and capacity planning.

Cross-Functional Coordination

Collaborate with Sales, Operations, Logistics, and Finance to align purchasing decisions with business priorities.

Support new item setup and onboarding of new suppliers, ensuring required documentation and compliance.

Provide clear communication on risks, delays, and supply constraints, including recommended mitigation actions.

Analytics & Continuous Improvement

Analyze purchasing data to identify cost savings, service improvements, and process efficiencies.

Contribute to process standardization and Procurement best practices across the organization.

Qualifications
Required Skills & Competencies

Strong understanding of commodity purchasing and market-driven pricing environments

Experience with supplier contract negotiation and lifecycle management

Ability to manage multiple SKUs within a category tied to shared supply sources or contracts

Advanced analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable decisions

Strong negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills

Proven ability to operate in a fast paced, execution focused environment

High attention to detail, particularly in contract terms, pricing, and supply alignment

Proficiency in ERP systems and Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, data analysis)

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business, or related field preferred (or equivalent experience)

5+ years of experience in procurement, with exposure to commodity-based sourcing and contract management

Experience supporting manufacturing, ingredient sourcing, or multilocation distribution environments preferred

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