Job Summary
As a Junior Planner/Buyer, you will play a key role in supporting the planning, procurement and inventory management of raw ingredients for Kiva Confections. Collaborating closely with category managers, production planning, and external vendors, your efforts will focus on supply and cost optimization, balancing inventory and fostering internal and external relationships that align with the company’s growth goals. In this fast-paced environment, you will apply problem-solving skills and contribute to process improvements. With a keen attention to detail, you will assist in ensuring that high-quality materials are delivered to Kiva on time, in full and within budget. Your responsibilities will include planning, procurement, and cost reductions for low to medium complexity materials, including off the shelf and semi-custom components. Excellent verbal, written and communication skills will be critical to the success of this position.
This job is for you if...
- You have a proven track record of maintaining a positive, solutions-driven attitude, even when working under tight deadlines
- You’ve been told (more than once) that you’re a team player, who is organized, proactive, and detail-oriented
- You’re proficient in Microsoft Tools and Google Suite, and an have aptitude to learn technical applications quickly
- You have the ability to use rigorous logic and methods to solve problems with effective solutions
- You’re extremely detail oriented, with a high level of comfort working with numbers and working with cross-functional stakeholders to meet deadlines
As Kiva's Junior Supply Planner, you will...
- Work with category manager to assess buy plans and submit purchase orders that support our manufacturing partners and optimize KIVA’s inventory investment, warehouse labor, and storage requirements
- Ensure timely and accurate data entry of POs and supplier information in Kiva’s ERP
- Actively communicate with suppliers to confirm order details, track shipments and address any discrepancies in deliveries
- Partner with Finance and receiving team to close out relevant inquiries and ensure 3-way match
- Identifying current and potential product shortages, escalating and supporting triage, advising interested parties of status and recovery plans. Ensures issues are managed to closure
- Ensuring that all deliveries satisfy the assigned purchase orders and report any back-ordered or missing products to stakeholders
- Working cross functionally to develop and update the departmental item master and MRP needs for Kiva as we continue to grow and scale
- Actively share out progress on initiatives and proactively communicate supply issues and risk mitigation plans in an organized process
- Providing reports, analysis and requested information to management as needed
What we're looking for...
- 3-4 years of materials purchasing and/or planning experience, ideally in Food & Beverage or Confections
- Experience in fast-moving consumer goods or manufacturing industry
- Previous experience working with ERP and MRP systems
- Ability to model cost and inventory scenarios
- Thrives at fostering internal and external business relationships
- Ability to perform a number of routine tasks quickly, efficiently and accurately.
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills, with the ability to proactively and effectively engage others to resolve issues
- Strong process-centric mindset
- Flexible and able to work within ambiguity
- Adopts analytical thinking to solve issues with accurate data and analysis
- Must work well in a fast paced, rapid growth, evolving environment
- Eagerness to learn and develop in a supply chain role
