Purchasing and Inventory Management Specialist

Purchasing and Inventory Management Specialist Company: The French Bread Factory Location: Sterling, Virginia 20166 Employment Type: Full-Time, On-Site Department: Purchasing, Inventory and Operations About the Company The French Bread Factory is an established commercial bakery with more than 25 years of experience serving wholesale customers throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. We are seeking a highly organized, analytical, detail-oriented, and results-driven Purchasing and Inventory Management Specialist to strengthen our purchasing operations, inventory accuracy, raw material controls, supplier management, and cost optimization processes. The ideal candidate will have practical experience in purchasing and inventory management within the food manufacturing, bakery, or food processing industry, combined with strong computer skills and professional proficiency in both English and Spanish. Key Responsibilities 1. Purchasing and Supplier Management Coordinate and execute purchases of raw materials, ingredients, packaging materials, and production supplies. Evaluate suppliers based on pricing, quality, reliability, delivery performance, and compliance requirements. Request quotations, compare purchasing alternatives, and negotiate competitive pricing. Prepare, monitor, and maintain purchase orders and purchasing documentation. Monitor supplier performance and identify opportunities for cost reduction. Maintain accurate supplier, product, and purchasing records. 2. Inventory Management and Control Maintain accurate inventory records for raw materials, ingredients, packaging, and production supplies. Monitor inventory levels, minimum stock requirements, reorder points, and product availability. Conduct physical inventory counts, cycle counts, and inventory reconciliations. Investigate and resolve inventory discrepancies. Implement and maintain FIFO (First In, First Out) inventory rotation procedures, together with expiration-date controls and FEFO practices when applicable. Monitor product expiration dates, storage conditions, waste, and material losses. Coordinate inventory availability with production schedules and operational requirements. 3. Cost Control and Purchasing Analysis Analyze purchasing costs, supplier price variations, and raw material consumption. Prepare comparative purchasing reports by supplier, product, quantity, and unit cost. Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising product quality or food safety. Monitor material usage, inventory variances, and purchasing efficiency. Support the development of product costing and raw material consumption reports. Provide accurate and timely information to management for operational and financial decision-making. 4. Systems, Technology and Data Management Maintain accurate purchasing and inventory information using computerized systems. Demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, data analysis, reports, and inventory tracking. Work with ERP, inventory management, and purchasing software. Support the implementation of digital inventory controls, barcode or QR code scanning, and automated reporting. Assist with the development and implementation of intelligent purchasing, inventory, and raw material control systems. Ensure data accuracy, traceability, and timely reporting. 5. Food Safety, Documentation and Compliance Maintain accurate documentation supporting ingredient traceability and inventory movements. Coordinate with production and quality personnel to ensure proper storage, handling, and rotation of ingredients. Support compliance with applicable FDA, FSMA, GMP, HACCP, and SQF-related procedures. Identify and report inventory irregularities, damaged materials, expired products, and potential food safety risks. Support internal audits and continuous improvement initiatives. 6. Operational Coordination and Reporting Coordinate daily with Production, Operations, Quality Control, Administration, and Finance. Prepare daily, we…

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