Innovation Purchasing Compliance Coordinator

About Veggies Made Great:

Veggies Made Great is a leading food manufacturing company specializing in creating delicious and nutritious vegetable-forward products. Our mission is to make it easier for people to incorporate vegetables into their daily diet without compromising on taste. We are committed to producing high-quality, convenient, and innovative products that cater to the evolving needs of health-conscious consumers.

Scope/ Position Description:

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Innovation Purchasing Coordinator to join our dynamic team. The role serves to drive procurement’s involvement in the Innovation and Commercialization Pipeline and Long-term Plan Strategies. The analyst role will collaborate with R&D, Supply Chain, QA and Finance to support new product launches, reformulations, and R&D innovation projects through the commercialization and documentation process. This role will also work with Quality Assurance to ensure all new vendors and ingredients are qualified and that documentation is verified as required by FDA Regulations and internal qualification standards.

A successful Innovation Purchasing Coordinator communicates effectively between departments and gathers all the requirements from the various departments to ensure a clear line of sight to the outcome.

Responsibilities:

·      Collaborate with the Senior Management and relevant stakeholders (e.g., Project Manager, Planning, Operations, R&D) to gain a clear understanding of new product development projects, meeting departmental and business timeline needs while working within the framework of project gates, liaising with suppliers, aligning with team objectives, and securing financial targets.

·      Develop relationships with new and existing suppliers as needed to support innovative needs.

·      Ensure compliance with specifications and maintain procurement practices, both internal and external, to meet standards. Collaborate with Supplier Quality and R&D regarding sourcing, quality, sustainability, fair trade, labor practices, product safety, and compliance.

·      Manage supplier sourcing activities by scouting suppliers outside of the Approved Supplier List (ASL) for new innovations in product development and manufacturing opportunities.

·      Confirm applicable commercial details between the purchase requisition and supplier quote/contract are included upon issuing the Purchase Order.

·      Adhere to company policies, legal requirements, and ethical standards in procurement processes.

·      Utilize pricing strategies to guide product development in maintaining gross margin in conjunction with accounting for initial product development.

·      Support QC by validating documentation in accordance with regulations and internal policies.

·      Identify operational constraints or limitations when supporting R&D development work.

·      Working with vendors, coordinate requirements ensuring that the vendors adhere to customer requirements.

·      Evaluate indexes and review spend reports to determine risks and the current and future states of the category, gaining insights into industry dynamics and trends, market size, and supplier analysis.

·      Oversee purchase-to-pay processes within the category, ensuring compliance with purchasing policies and procedures. Ensure orders are completed timely and accurately, effectively manage the purchase order lifecycle, including amendments and cancellations.

·      Perform other related duties and assignments as required.

Requirements:

·      Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business Administration, or a related field.

·      Minimum of 3 years of experience in procurement in the food industry. 

·      Strong knowledge of the commercialization process, including product development, manufacturing, and supply chain management.

·      Proven track record of successfully supporting innovation commercialization projects.

Skills:

·      Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

·      Strong negotiation skills and attention to detail.

·      Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

·      Ability to work independently to identify and research relevant market, industry and supplier information.

·      Role is on site 5 days a week at our Main Manufacturing facilities in NJ.