Sr. Buyer, Agriculture

Florida Crystals is a leading domestic sugar producer and North America’s first fully integrated cane sugar company, guiding our sugar from farm to table. We are America’s first and only producer of certified organic sugar, grown and harvested in the United States. Our renewable energy facility is the largest of its kind in North America and provides clean energy that powers our sugar operations, which helps us reduce our use of fossil fuels. Florida Crystals also sustainably farms rice, sweet corn and other vegetables in rotation with our sugarcane. Our rice mill is the only rice mill in Florida.

POSITION SCOPE

Under general guidance of the Purchasing Manager, the Senior Buyer is responsible for FCC’s purchasing strategy through effective vendor relationship management, contract & project management, and management of suppliers. The Senior Buyer will provide direct contact for customers in the procurement of agricultural materials and services at multiple locations throughout North and Central America. The Senior Buyer will be required to work well in a team environment, have the ability to handle a large order volume, prioritize appropriately, and maintain positive business relationships with both internal and external customers. The Senior Buyer must be able to travel up to 20% of the time; travel will be assigned based on the current needs of the business.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution. Degree major in Supply Chain, Business, or related field is preferred.

• 5+ years of applicable purchasing experience required, agricultural experience preferred

• 5+ years of experience utilizing an ERP system (e.g. SAP, Oracle) and supplier management tools (e.g. SAP, Ariba)

ESSENTIAL CAPABILITIES (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES)

• Experience with purchasing on an ERP system, SAP experience strongly preferred.

• Ability to communicate in a clear and concise manner both verbally and in writing. Ability to present information in a clear and concise manner to all audience levels.

• Ability to understand internal demands as they relate to the purchases of goods and services for the business

• Ability to analyze complex information and perform root cause analysis

• Ability to recognize areas for Continuous Improvement strategies; recommend and implement CI strategies as assigned

• Ability to provide excellent customer service to both internal and external customers and foster strong, open lines of communication across all levels of the organization

• Ability to maintain confidentiality of proprietary business information at all times

• Ability to effectively manage time, including the ability to prioritize, work within assigned deadlines, and work independently or collaboratively to accomplish organizational objectives

• Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects while maintaining quality & accuracy standards

• Strong analytical and numeracy skills, combined with ability to utilize Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Excel, Word, and Powerpoint on an Advanced Level

• Ability to successfully negotiate price, terms, delivery, and volume levels with suppliers.

• Ability to anticipate issues, perform independent/critical needs analysis, and take corrective actions resulting in thorough and effective solutions.

• Ability to consolidate, analyze, and report on ERP and marketplace information.

• Ability to work in a high dollar, deadline driven purchasing environment.

• Ability to work with changing market conditions, incomplete information, and make decisions in the best interests of the business.

• Must have a comprehensive understanding of TCO (total cost of ownership).

• Travel up to 20% of the time; travel will be assigned based on the current needs of the business.

PREFERRED CAPABILITIES (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES)

• Prior experience working across a multi-site enterprise.

• Prior experience with SAP and or Ariba Platforms.

• Verbal and written fluency in Spanish & English.

• Strong background in supply chain preferably in an agricultural environment

• Experience working with agricultural materials and/or equipment.

• Contract negotiations and contract management experience.

DETAILED ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for managing high spend categories for multiple farm locations.

• Responsible for preparing, negotiating, executing, managing and coordinating agreements for assigned commodities and/or services.

• Independently negotiates contracts, price, and supplier agreements

• Utilizes the company ERP system to generate reports and perform analytics

• Researches and evaluates global suppliers based on price, quality, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, reputation, financial status, and history.

• Ensures all agreements, purchases and initiatives comply with internal policies.

• Collaborates on material or equipment specifications, reviews requisitions for goods and services, solicits proposals, and ensures suppliers provide timely and high quality materials and services to agricultural operations.

• Works with internal stakeholders to align procurement with operational needs

• Presents cost savings ideas and continuous improvement opportunities to internal customers on a regional and global basis and implement as appropriate.

• Works with the Fleet Managers, end users, and suppliers to optimize and standardize agricultural equipment on a global scale.

• Works with finance, operations, and leadership to deliver sustainability solutions.

• Stays up to date with current marketplace trends in price, suppliers, and/or other conditions affecting business in assigned categories. Researches assigned markets & applies market intelligence to optimize purchasing strategies.

• Communicates and collaborates effectively with internal and external members of the Supply Chain as well as presents information in a clear and concise manner to all audience levels up to C-suite.

• Successfully transitions from work in a corporate office environment to an agricultural settings which would include farm fields, repair shops, and remote office sites on occasion.

• Ensures all Metrics and KPI’s are followed and maintained

• Maintains confidentiality of proprietary business information at all times

• Completes special projects and other duties as assigned

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Acting strategically- Aligns day to day activities around broader organizational goals and objectives; prioritizes resources based on the strategic objectives of the organization; recognizes and rewards people based on how their actions support the broader needs of the company.

• Working with Ambiguity- Achieves forward progress in the face of poorly defined situations and/or unclear goals; able to work effectively with limited or partial information.

• Accountability: Takes accountability for delivering on commitments; owns mistakes and uses them as opportunities for learning and development; openly discusses his/her actions and their consequences both good and bad.

• Customer Orientation – Addressing internal and/or external customer needs by providing and delivering professional, helpful, high quality service and support.

• Acting with Integrity: Clearly states goals and beliefs; lets people know his/her true intentions; does what he she said they would do; follows through on commitments; Understands and follows company policies.

• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Expresses ideas and information in a clear and concise manner; tailors message to fit the interests and needs of the audience; delivers information in a manner that is interesting and compelling to the listener.

• Energy & Initiative: Takes action on his/her own without being prompted; handles problems independently; able to resolve issues without relying on extensive help from others; does more than is expected or asked; asserts one's influence over events to achieve goals.

• Teamwork & Collaboration – Working effectively with others to achieve a desired outcome.

• Judgment & Decision-Making: Bases decisions on a systematic review of relevant facts and information; avoids making assumptions or rushing to judgment; provides clear rationale for decisions.

• Continuous Learning: Demonstrates ambition and desire to move forward in his/her career; engages others in discussions about career development; seeks feedback on ways to increase his/her performance; takes advantage of opportunities to build new skills and capabilities.

LOCATION

• West Palm Beach, FL

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.