Junior Buyer

SunOpta Overview:SunOpta Inc. is a leader in the plant-based foods and beverages, fruit-based foods and beverages, and organic ingredient sourcing industries.  SunOpta is focused on sustainability and specializes in the sourcing, processing, and packaging of organic, conventional, non-GMO food products.  SunOpta is looking for talented individuals that demonstrate our most valued behaviors: Passion, Dedication, Speed, Entrepreneurship, Customer-Centricity, and Problem-Solver, to help create a brighter, healthier, and sustainable future of food!  Job Summary:Junior Buyer position is responsible for assisting with operational procurement activities including securing availability of raw materials, packaging material and ingredients for production.  The buyer will update product availability plans in collaboration with internal and external suppliers and provide updates to customer service and sales on expected supply. Essential Functions of the Job: •    Procurement of raw materials used by the plant.•    Prepare and issue purchase orders and change notices.•    Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy.•    Design, development and implementation of SOP’s for procurement.•    Proactive planning of demand and supply.•    Ensure adherence to corporate contracts and provide input to suppler improvement programs.•    Work with Quality Control to refine quality and HACCP programs with all key processors.•    Maintain historical sales volumes and provide input to sales forecasting and with suppliers to secure supply.•    Follow company GMP’s (Good manufacturing practices) and all other quality programs.•    Responsible for ensuring work area is clean and organized.•    Strictly adhere to all safety policies.•    Wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when required.•    Commitment to ensuring that the products produced meet all food safety and quality requirements.•    All other duties as assigned. Supervisory Responsibilities:None Minimum Qualifications:•    To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.•    High School Diploma•    2 years experience purchasing/receiving in a manufacturing environment Experience using ERP systems is required. Preferred Qualifications:•    Oracle experience Knowledge and Skills:Candidate must have strong analytical skills, MS Excel skills, and knowledge of business system and purchasing practices.  High attention to detail and strong follow-up skills are necessary.  A solid working knowledge of MS Word and PowerPoint software is needed.  Excellent communication skills and the ability to work cross functionally with various internal departments, stakeholders and supplier partners are key requirements. Must have capability to effectively manage information and to communicate effectively with both internally and externally.  Must be able to effectively purchase 140 unique materials.  Ability to use critical thinking to plan and problem-solve. Additional Considerations:•    Very minimal travel may be necessary to various SunOpta locations and for meetings or other job-related functions.:  Work Environment/Physical Demands:Approximately; 85% of work is performed in an office environment.  15% of work may involve being in the agricultural or manufacturing/plant floor environment. 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. An Equal Opportunity EmployerEOE M/W/VET/DISABLED