Buyer Feed, Ingredients is responsible for managing the sourcing and procurement of all raw materials, including corn and soybean, for proprietary feed blends. This role ensures the availability and timely delivery of ingredients through various transportation methods to mill locations to meet customer requirements. In this role, the Buyer would negotiate pricing, ensure quality standards, and manage supplier relationships to enhance price competitiveness and supply reliability.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:
- Develop and implement sourcing strategies for bulk feed ingredients, ensuring consistent quality and price competitiveness.
- Lead negotiations for best pricing and terms with suppliers.
- Ensure adequate inventory levels to meet production demand across multiple mill locations.
- Establish and cultivate strategic relationships with trading partners, brokers, producers, and freight providers (rail, barge, trucking).
- Ensure timely and cost-effective delivery of feed ingredients to mill locations.
- Oversee logistics coordination for inbound pipeline and shipping instructions.
- Oversee and manage demurrage and delayed delivery costs, reporting downstream consequences to senior management.
- Handle and oversee the soybean meal claims process, reporting unexpected variances as needed.
- Implement and monitor quality control processes to ensure consistent supplier performance.
- Provide leadership and direction to the procurement team, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
- Guide and mentor team members, providing technical and professional development support.
- Maintain effective communication with all stakeholders to ensure smooth operations and cost efficiency.
- Perform additional relevant duties as assigned by senior management.
SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
- This role is a Leader of People role with required competencies: Sizing up People, Delegation, Planning, Customer Focus and Conflict Management
EDUCATION and CERTIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, supply chain, procurement, agriculture or a related field from an accredited institution
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:
- Minimum five (5) years’ experience in agricultural commodity procurement
- Understanding of agricultural commodity price risk management and derivative hedging (feedstock) within Agricultural Processing and Trading
- Experience in managing dynamic business environments, where price stability, supply availability, and potential business outcomes are under continuous pressure and change
- Experience in strategic sourcing including end to end strategy development
- Strong customer focus with the ability to effectively communicate, both verbal and written, with all levels of the organization and with external organizations/ vendors in a timely and professional manner
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage projects while maintaining a high attention to detail
- Self-starter who demonstrates strong initiative with a sense of urgency and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment within a diverse team environment
- Strong computer literacy (Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook)
- Must have good communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to communicate with all levels of the organization in a timely and professional manner; multi-lingual strongly preferred
- Ability to handle and resolve most issues in an efficient and effective manner while ensuring confidential information is relayed only on a need-to-know basis
- Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize projects, planning skills, and a high attention to detail
- Must possess a strong customer-centric attitude, high energy level and a strong sense of urgency
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:
- Follow departmental and company safety policies and programs
- Wear required protective equipment in all areas, where mandatory
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to travel 10-15% when required
