Purchaser

Company: Michele S Granola
Location: Lutherville Timonium
Posted on: February 19, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Position Title: Purchaser Reports To: Director of Operations Type of Position: Full-time Exempt Salary Range: $75K–$82K base About Michele’s Granola Michele’s Granola is a Baltimore-based premium food manufacturer committed to producing high-quality, all-natural granola. We operate in a fast-paced, growing environment where operational excellence, cost discipline, and strong cross-functional collaboration drive success. Position Summary The Purchaser is responsible for end-to-end procurement of raw materials, packaging, MRO supplies, and services required to support food manufacturing operations. This role owns purchase order creation and management within SAP, vendor performance tracking, cost control initiatives, and inventory accuracy in alignment with production schedules. This position requires a demonstrated track record in purchasing within a manufacturing environment and hands-on experience using SAP ERP systems. The successful candidate must be analytical, detail-oriented, and comfortable working cross-functionally with Production, Warehouse, Finance, and Quality teams. Key Responsibilities Procurement & Cost Management Execute purchase orders for ingredients, packaging, freight, and indirect supplies through SAP. Develop and implement cost-saving strategies without compromising quality or service levels. Obtain and analyze competitive bids; negotiate pricing, payment terms, MOQs, and freight. Monitor commodity pricing trends and identify risk mitigation strategies. Maintain accurate vendor pricing records within SAP. ERP & Systems Management (ESSENTIAL) Create, modify, and manage purchase orders within SAP. Reconcile goods receipts and invoices (3-way match). Maintain accurate material master data and vendor master data. Generate procurement and inventory reports from SAP. Support continuous improvement initiatives leveraging ERP data. Inventory & Production Support Align procurement with production schedules and forecast demand. Monitor inventory levels to prevent stockouts and overstock conditions. Collaborate with Warehouse and Materials teams to ensure timely receiving. Support cycle counts and inventory audits. Vendor & Relationship Management Build and maintain strong vendor partnerships. Track vendor performance metrics (OTIF, quality, responsiveness). Resolve invoice discrepancies and payment disputes promptly. Evaluate and onboard new suppliers, including credit applications and compliance documentation. Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with Finance to support accurate accruals and payment processing. Partner with Quality and Food Safety to ensure supplier compliance. Support operational projects, including capacity expansion initiatives. Required Qualifications Minimum 3–5 years of purchasing experience in a manufacturing environment (food manufacturing strongly preferred). Demonstrated hands-on experience using ERP systems such as Aptean, SAP, or Netsuite (MM module preferred) —REQUIRED. Proven track record of managing vendor relationships and negotiating cost savings. Strong analytical and reporting skills. Experience with inventory management and MRP systems. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, reporting). Strong communication and problem-solving skills. Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or related field. Experience in food manufacturing or CPG. Understanding of MRP planning and production scheduling. Knowledge of freight logistics and inbound transportation coordination. CSCP Certification (Certified Supply Chain Professional) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Inventory accuracy % Purchase price variance Vendor OTIF performance Cost savings initiatives achieved annually Invoice discrepancy resolution time Stockout prevention metrics IND26

Keywords: Michele S Granola, Sterling , Purchaser, Retail - All , Lutherville Timonium, Virginia