MRO / Buyer

MRO / BUYER

The MRO / Maintenance Buyer plays a crucial role in procuring maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) supplies and equipment for a food manufacturing facility. The ideal candidate will be responsible for sourcing, purchasing, and managing inventory of Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) materials, parts, and supplies. The role requires in-depth knowledge of mechanical components and systems, ensuring that the right parts are sourced efficiently to minimize downtime in operations. Travel is expected (

Collaborate with maintenance managers and supervisors to understand maintenance needs, identify required MRO supplies, and create purchase requisitions to replenish inventory and fulfill maintenance requirements. Negotiating with suppliers, maintaining optimal inventory levels, managing purchase orders, and ensuring timely delivery of materials. Participate in evaluating potential vendors, suppliers, and contractors for MRO supplies and services, and maintain relationships to ensure reliable and cost-effective supply sources.

Place purchase orders for MRO supplies, equipment, and services, expedite orders as needed to meet urgent maintenance needs, and track order status to ensure timely delivery and availability of materials. Manage vendor relationships, including resolving issues, addressing quality concerns, and evaluating vendor performance to ensure adherence to service level expectations. Maintain accurate records of MRO inventory levels, consumption rates, and usage patterns, analyze inventory data to identify trends, forecast future needs, and optimize inventory levels to minimize stockouts and excess inventory.

Implement inventory management best practices, such as ABC analysis, just-in-time (JIT) inventory, and kanban systems, to improve inventory turnover, reduce carrying costs, and maximize operational efficiency. Collaborate with maintenance technicians and other departments to identify opportunities for standardization, consolidation, and cost reduction in MRO purchases, and implement initiatives to achieve savings and efficiencies. Monitor and control MRO procurement expenses within budgetary constraints, track spending against budget, analyze variances, and identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements.

Ensure compliance with purchasing policies, procedures, and regulations, including internal controls. Support on assigned Indirect Spend projects. Indirect Spend projects could include, but not be limited to, such categories as Health and Safety, PPE items, uniforms, cleaning supplies, or other non-inventoried items used to support the facility. Stay current with industry trends, market conditions, and technological advancements in MRO supplies and procurement practices, and recommend and implement innovative solutions to drive continuous improvement.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED :

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related field. At least 3-5 years of experience in MRO procurement or related field, preferably in a food manufacturing environment. Vendor management skills are essential. Strong knowledge of inventory management. Proficiency in enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and Microsoft Office Suite. Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a focus on data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement. Effective communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to interact with vendors, suppliers, and internal stakeholders. Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Familiarity with food safety regulations, GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), and HACCP principles. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and as part of a team to achieve procurement objectives and support maintenance operations.

WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE :

A background in mechanical engineering or industrial maintenance is preferred. Certification in procurement, supply chain management, or related fields (e.g., Certified Professional in Supply Management, Certified Purchasing Manager) is a plus.