Purchasing Senior Buyer

Position Summary:

The Senior Purchasing Buyer is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and purchasing food, beverage, and restaurant-related supplies and services to support operations across multiple locations. This role ensures cost-effective procurement while maintaining quality standards, vendor relationships, and inventory levels. The ideal candidate has deep experience in foodservice procurement and thrives in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute purchasing strategies for food, beverage, disposables, equipment, and services.
• Source and negotiate with suppliers to ensure competitive pricing, quality, and timely delivery.
• Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and performance metrics.
• Collaborate with culinary, operations, and finance teams to forecast demand and optimize inventory.
• Monitor market trends, commodity pricing, and supply chain disruptions to mitigate risk.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sustainability, and regulatory standards.
• Analyze purchasing data to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve procurement processes.
• Lead RFPs and RFQs for major purchases and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Support new restaurant openings and seasonal menu changes with timely procurement planning.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Hospitality, or related field.
• 5+ years of purchasing experience, preferably in the restaurant or hospitality industry.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and communication skills.
• Proficiency in procurement software and ERP systems (e.g., Coupa, Oracle, SAP).
• Knowledge of foodservice distribution, perishables, and vendor compliance.
• Ability to work cross-functionally and manage multiple priorities.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with sustainability initiatives and local sourcing.
• Familiarity with restaurant operations and menu planning.
• Certification in supply chain or procurement (e.g., CPSM, CSCP) is a plus.