<p>POSITION SUMMARY</p> <p>The Purchasing Agent is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, contracting, cost control, inventory management, and other procurement functions related to designated product categories. Execute and enforce purchase agreements, including monitoring supplier floor stock, updating pricing changes, and sourcing supplies for marketing activities. Maintain regular communication with suppliers and/or distributors to ensure compliance with purchase agreements in terms of cost, quality, product specifications, and inventory management. Additional responsibilities include conducting ad hoc analyses, preparing reports, and communicating via presentations to management.</p> <p>ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS</p> <p>May perform any or all of the following duties:</p> <ul> <li>Completes documented RFP solicitation process, obtains and analyzes competitive bids from suppliers, conducts negotiations on pricing, manufacturing capacity, quality compliance, inventory levels to be maintained, and product lead times for assigned categories. Makes a recommendation based on the supplier that best meets all attributes. Pricing is often developed with formula cost models. </li><li>Develops agreements that include key categories, documenting negotiated terms from the solicitation process. Manages the process of fully executing agreements in a timely fashion. </li><li>Manages supplier relationships to support corporate goals and resolve product or supplier issues, ensuring satisfaction and positive outcomes. </li><li>Ensures suppliers submit accurate and timely price changes in accordance with agreements, and that pricing is communicated accurately and in a timely manner to distribution partners. Ensures suppliers' production meets the company's needs. </li><li>Develops relationships with applicable suppliers that create a high level of collaboration and performance against delivery dates, technical problems, material deviations, damage claims, etc. Works closely with Quality Control, Culinary Innovation, and Inventory Management to overcome obstacles. </li><li>Support Marketing initiatives that include limited-time offers (LTOs) and new menu offerings by identifying suppliers, forecasting needs, and managing supplier inventory. </li><li>Participates in developing procurement strategies, including requirements planning, alternate sourcing, timing of purchasing, inventory level adjustments, etc. </li><li>Make recommendations for responsible commodities, communicating approved positions, and providing routine position variance reporting. </li><li>Participates in the establishment of a company-wide food cost budget. Evaluates and analyzes previous contracts, performs market research to establish pricing trends, and investigates market conditions. </li><li>Participates in company meetings, webinars, and conference calls. </li><li>Available as a daily resource for corporate personnel, company operators, and franchise operators as needed for product specification, product sourcing, product review, product pricing, product lead time, product warranty, service, problem resolution, etc. </li><li>Other duties and/or special projects as assigned in response to changing business conditions and/or requirements </li></ul> <p>POSITION QUALIFICATIONS/CORE COMPETENCIES</p> <ul> <li>Must possess approximately three (3) years of any combination of experience and/or education that demonstrates a commanding knowledge of food purchasing responsibility, preferably in foodservice. </li><li>A bachelor's degree in Business or a related field is preferred. </li><li>Working knowledge of product specifications and distribution. </li><li>Strong background in analysis, both quantitative and qualitative. </li><li>Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) </li><li>Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to communicate effectively with all levels of management, both internally and externally </li><li>Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, and can identify and implement process improvement strategies with positive business results. </li><li>Strong work ethic; commitment to seeing duties completed to a high standard of quality. </li><li>Consistently exercises independent judgment and discretion in matters of significance. </li></ul> <p>WORK ENVIRONMENT</p> <ul> <li>Restaurant Support Center is a fast-paced, high-volume of activity with a deadline-driven environment. </li></ul> <p>PHYSICAL DEMANDS</p> <ul> <li>Constant interaction with internal and external partners by phone and/or electronic communications. </li><li>Sitting for extended periods of time, using the telephone, typing, and/or operating a computer and/or mouse. </li><li>Travel as needed, approximately ten percent (10%). </li></ul> <p>THE COMPANY RETAINS THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR ASSIGN OTHER DUTIES TO THIS POSITION AS DEEMED APPROPRIATE WITH OR WITHOUT NOTICE</p>