Purchasing and Inventory Management Specialist

Purchasing and Inventory Management Specialist Location: Sterling, Virginia, USA Job Type: Full-Time | On-Site Industry: Industrial Bakery / Food Manufacturing Position Overview An established industrial bakery and food manufacturing company in Northern Virginia is seeking a highly organized, analytical, and results-oriented Purchasing and Inventory Management Specialist. The selected candidate will be responsible for coordinating purchasing activities, managing supplier relationships, maintaining accurate inventory records, monitoring raw material consumption, and supporting cost-control initiatives. This is a hands-on specialist position requiring strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and experience in purchasing and inventory management within manufacturing, food production, or similar operational environments. Key Responsibilities Manage purchasing activities for raw materials, ingredients, packaging supplies, and operational materials. Evaluate suppliers, negotiate pricing, and monitor purchasing conditions and delivery performance. Maintain accurate inventory records, including quantities, costs, movements, and stock levels. Monitor material consumption, identify discrepancies, and investigate inventory variances. Implement and maintain inventory control procedures, including FIFO and FEFO where applicable. Monitor minimum stock levels, reorder points, and material availability to prevent production interruptions. Analyze purchasing costs, supplier price variations, and opportunities for operational savings. Coordinate with Production, Quality Control, Finance, and Administration. Support inventory counts, reconciliations, and documentation for internal and external audits. Use inventory management systems, ERP platforms, Excel, and digital tools to improve data accuracy and operational efficiency. Prepare purchasing, inventory, consumption, and cost-control reports for management. Support the implementation and continuous improvement of digital purchasing and inventory control processes. Required Qualifications Professional fluency in English and Spanish, both written and spoken, is mandatory. Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Accounting, Industrial Engineering, Logistics, or a related field. Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in purchasing, inventory control, supply chain, or materials management. Demonstrated experience with supplier management, purchasing procedures, and inventory reconciliation. Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and familiarity with ERP or inventory management systems. Knowledge of inventory valuation, FIFO principles, stock rotation, and cost-control practices. Strong analytical, organizational, negotiation, and problem-solving skills. Ability to work independently and collaborate with cross-functional teams. Availability to work on-site in Sterling, Virginia. Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Preferred Qualifications Experience in industrial bakeries, food manufacturing, or food distribution. Familiarity with food safety requirements, traceability, and raw material handling. Experience with barcode or QR-based inventory systems. Knowledge of purchasing analytics, inventory optimization, and process automation. Experience supporting ERP implementation or digital transformation initiatives. What We Are Looking For A detail-oriented professional who combines strong purchasing and inventory management capabilities with financial discipline, operational efficiency, and a continuous improvement mindset. The ideal candidate will help strengthen purchasing controls, improve inventory accuracy, reduce unnecessary costs, and ensure reliable material availability for daily production. Bilingual Requirement: English and Spanish proficiency is essential. Candidates must demonstrate professional communication skills in both languages. Equal Employment Opportunity We are an equal opportunity employer and consider qualified applicants wi…

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