Feast & Fettle is seeking an experienced PURCHASING MANAGER to join Product Team operations at our production facility located in East Providence. This salaried role will have a base schedule of Monday - Friday, 7am-4pm and report to our Sourcing Lead.
What is Feast & Fettle?
What began as a private chef's business in 2016 has blossomed over the years into the Northeast's leading premium, fully-prepared meal delivery service. And each day at Feast & Fettle, we pour love and care into preparing, packing, and personally delivering weekly menu items to our cherished Member base across the Northeast. Our mission is both simple and expansive: to nourish everyday life. This speaks to the quality of our food, our community engagement, and how our service gives Members the space needed to devote more energy to what matters most in their lives.
We believe accomplishing this mission begins with nourishing the lives of our employees. Among our benefits, all F&F employees enjoy a free meal plan, wellness and education stipends. We are committed to fostering a positive and empowering environment in which everyone brings their best selves to work, contributing to the continuous betterment of the company. And it's our culture that really sets us apart from other organizations in the food & hospitality industry. Through reducing barriers folks may be showing up with, we work to provide meaningful growth opportunities for all.
By joining us at F&F, you become part of a transparent cross-department team centering joy and ambition-on an exciting growth trajectory which we engage with mindfulness and care. We grow in service of sustainable profitability, mutual support, and thorough maintenance of the superior quality our Members expect.
What does a Purchasing Manager at F&F do?
The Purchasing Manager will utilize our forecasting model for ordering purposes. This role requires exceptional organization, communication, and adaptability to meet business demands and maintain inventory accuracy. This role calls for a mindset that treats each department down the line as an important internal customer. It's key to build strong working relationships, understand what each team needs, and consistently deliver work that helps them operate smoothly and successfully.
Key Responsibilities:
Forecasting:
Using internal automated forecasting technology to communicate with vendors for multiple menus simultaneously.
Maintain a detailed process with a focus on accuracy, reliability, and agility.
Ordering:
Place purchase orders via email or online shopping carts.
Ensure timely and efficient ordering to meet kitchen and business needs.
Respond to kitchen requests for smallware orders (e.g., utensils, equipment), managing both frequent and occasional requests.
Place purchase orders for weekly operating goods and packaging materials.
Reconcile any price discrepancies and alert the Sourcing Lead when necessary.
Receiving Collaboration:
Communicating with Receiving Manager about accuracy of all food deliveries with proper documentation using internal documents.
Navigating discrepancies with vendors about potential errors for immediate correction on volumes, price, spec, expiration date, or quality.
Collaborate with our internal Quality Assurance team to mitigate any food safety or quality issues.
Continuous Improvement
Develop a supplier score-card system that is communicated monthly to our suppliers. This is utilized for process improvement in collaboration with our internal teams - Quality Assurance, Receiving, and Quality Control.
Food Recovery Management:
Respond to day-of food recovery needs to address discrepancies that occur in each week ensuring minimal disruption to operations.
Delivery Coordination:
Collaborate with both external and internal teams to align food deliveries with our receiving production schedules for optimal kitchen efficiency.
Organize seasonal and special occasion delivery schedules, ensuring timely receipt of ingredients.
Special Purchase Orders:
Handle purchase orders with specialized vendors requiring extended lead times.
Manage inventory and lead times for items with varying shelf life, limited storage, and subsequent re-ordering of goods.
Qualifications:
Strong organizational and time management skills.
Experience with inventory management, vendor coordination, and scheduling.
Ability to adapt to shifting priorities and handle unexpected challenges effectively.
Familiarity with long-lead ordering processes and maintaining relevant-par inventory.
Preferred Skills:
Experience in food service, kitchen operations, warehousing, or manufacturing.
Proficiency in email/online ordering systems.
Strong interpersonal skills for team collaboration and vendor relations.
What does a strong applicant for this position have?
2-3 years of experience [relevant experience such as Receiving, Purchasing, Warehousing, etc.)
Proficient understanding of Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets
Physically able to lift items weighing fifty (50) pounds
Basic understanding of general food ingredients
Must have valid driver's license
ServSafe Manager certified
Food Allergen Awareness certified
Desire to contribute positively to your coworkers and to the company
Ability to listen and communicate effectively
Very strong work ethic and enthusiastic attitude
Tech savvy is a major plus! We like to integrate tech into all aspects of the business
Positive attitude: we believe a negative attitude inhibits everything about what we are trying to accomplish as a team.