Summary

The Maintenance Repair & Operations (MRO) Buyer is responsible for procuring maintenance repair and operations (MRO) supplies and services for the food manufacturing facility. This includes sourcing negotiating and purchasing a wide range of items such as spare parts tools lubricants cleaning supplies safety equipment and maintenance services. This role also is responsible for maintaining an organized and accurate part room. The MRO Buyer plays a critical role in ensuring the smooth operation of the facility by maintaining adequate inventory levels of parts and minimizing downtime.

Essential Functions

Parts Room & Inventory Control

• Procure MRO materials including spare parts tools consumables and services to support plant operations
• Receive inspect label and store maintenance and spare parts in compliance with GMP food safety and allergen control standards
• Issue parts to maintenance technicians and record transactions in the CMMS; ensure accurate flow of inbound and parts consumption records in the CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System)
• Partner with Maintenance to identify and prioritize critical spare parts
• Maintain accurate inventory records including lot tracking for food-contact and critical parts
• Perform daily and weekly cycle counts; assist with physical inventory

Maintenance Support

• Stage parts and kits for scheduled preventive maintenance (PMs)
• Identify critical spares and support uptime for high-impact production equipment
• Track warranty parts cores and returns with vendors

Purchasing & Cost Control

• Manage purchase orders confirmations and deliveries in the ERP/CMMS system
• Resolve invoice discrepancies pricing errors and receiving issues
• Collaborate with Finance on spend analysis budgeting and cost-reduction initiatives
• Monitor min/max levels and initiate replenishment requests
• Optimize min/max levels based on consumption patterns trends and business needs
• Coordinate with Purchasing and Maintenance leadership on approved vendors and lead times
• Support continuous improvement projects related to reliability and asset uptime
• Negotiate pricing lead times contracts and service agreements with vendors
• Identify obsolete slow-moving and excess inventory for reduction or disposal
• Work closely with maintenance and production teams to identify and address MRO needs

Organization & Compliance

• Maintain a clean organized and audit-ready parts room
• Support maintenance KPIs such as inventory accuracy stock-outs and PM kit fill rate

Follow all safety food safety and sanitation requirements

Competencies

1. Safety-Minded
2. Communication
3. Research
4. Negotiation
5. Teamwork and Leadership
6. Initiative/Self-Motivation
7. Results Driven

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Work Environment

This job largely operates in an office setting and will routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers phones photocopiers and filing cabinets. While performing the duties of this job the employee is also required to visit the manufacturing and warehouse floor where they will be exposed to large equipment and moving mechanical parts. The employee may be exposed to loud wet and/or humid conditions; high precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; outside weather conditions; extreme cold; and extreme heat.

Physical Demands

This role requires moderate physical activity in the office operating office equipment such as phone computer etc. and on the manufacturing/warehouse floor. While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and taste or smell. This position requires standing walking bending kneeling stooping crouching crawling and climbing. The employee must have the ability to lift 50 pounds. While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision distance vision color vision peripheral vision depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a salaried exempt position. Typical days and hours of work are Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. This position may require long hours and occasional weekend work.

Travel

5% - local supplies if needed.

Required Education and Experience

1. Bachelors degree in supply chain management or related degree with 2 years of experience in MRO procurement or maintenance role. A combination of a High School Diploma or G.E.D. and experience may also be considered.
2. Seasoned Inventory Management experience
3. Strong negotiation and communication skills
4. Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities
5. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and purchasing software
6. Experience using inventory management and ERP systems (Plex is preferred)

Preferred Education and Experience

1. Food manufacturing experience in operations or maintenance
2. Familiarity with food safety and sanitation

Other Duties

Actively supports all company sustainability initiatives.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Work Authorization

Must be eligible to work in the United States of America.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of our customers and the communities we operate in to attract and retain the best talent and providing an equal employment opportunity regardless of race creed color religion gender sexual orientation gender identity/expression national origin disability age genetic information veteran status marital status pregnancy maternity paternity or caring responsibilities or any other basis protected by law.