At Link Snacks, we show up hungry, roll up our sleeves, plaid or otherwise, and dive straight into the hard work. We don’t hide from challenges; we hunt them down. We push harder, move faster, and take the kinds of big swings that built this business in the North Woods of Wisconsin four decades ago.

We’re everyday people who deliver extraordinary results. Innovation, creativity, and urgency aren’t buzzwords, they’re expectations. And just like the real protein snacks we make across our global house of brands—Jack Link’s®, Lorissa’s Kitchen®, Golden Island®, BiFi®, and Peperami® and KOOEE!® to name a few—there’s nothing artificial about us. What you see is exactly what you get: humble, gritty, passionate people who show up every day ready to not just be a participate in the meat snack industry that the Link Family created, but to move faster, innovate harder and keep raising the bar so high, the rest of the world needs a ladder just to see it.

Dominating this space across the world takes a team. A team that runs together, succeeds together, and celebrates together. A team that’s full of relentless energy and spirit that can only be fueled by one thing: a fist full of our delicious meat snacks.

Real Meat Protein. Real People. Real Results. THAT is Link Snacks.

The incumbent is responsible for researching and evaluating price, availability, quality, and warranties (as applicable). Places purchase orders for supplies, equipment, and services needed; keeping blanket orders in place for long lead time items, and new projects as they arise regarding inventory and new supply requirements. The Buyer meets with suppliers regularly to discuss delivery and quality issues. Works diligently to verify that all items required for production, maintenance, and packaging will arrive in sufficient timeliness to meet production schedules. Maintain minimum levels of inventoried items in order to accommodate insufficient warehouse space. Carries out responsibilities in accordance with company policies and procedures.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

· Safety: Perform all duties within OSHA and company safety standards; wear PPE and maintain safety equipment (as applicable).

· Maintain a safe, clean and organized work area.

· Immediately report all accidents and deficiencies to the management.

· Duties:

· Identify what is required to package product on the production schedule; verify inventory needs.

· Purchases all materials, equipment, supplies, and services for the plant in accordance with prescribed purchasing regulations and procedures.

· Ensure all requirements are accurately entered into SAP - producing purchase orders and/or stock transfers.

· Communication with vendors to order or release supplies ensuring weekly schedule demands are met on time.

· Works with logistics to arrange transportation (as needed).

· Check outside inventories each week as to what is warehoused at supplier’s facilities.

· Place orders for items that require longer lead times such as film and caddies.

· Negotiate component pricing, order, release blanket purchase orders and schedule deliveries to ensure production schedules are achieved while maintaining acceptable inventory levels.

· Verify physical inventory, perform root cause analysis of inventory discrepancies and implement corrective action.

· Review purchasing and receiving records; process invoices in a timely manner and ensure that discounts (if applicable) are applied.

· Works closely with Accounting (A/P) to ensure invoices are accurate; research and resolve discrepancies in a timely manner.

· Verify large swing items at period end.

· Contacts suppliers on bad items and ensures that it is sent back, with the proper credit received.

· Meets with vendors on a regular basis to discuss issues (i.e., bad supplies, outdated materials, new projects, shipping problems, etc.)

· Keeps in contact with suppliers that have longer lead times to ensure materials are produced on time.

· Receive inventory and supply requirements from appropriate supervisors on a weekly basis (as needed).

· Set-up new vendors.

· Is flexible to work hours beyond and/or outside regular schedule to ensure proper coverage for the position when needed. Performs duties in an independent manner with minimal direction.

· General:

· Must demonstrate the LinkSnacks Values: Be Real - Relationship Driven – Stewardship - Speed Matters - Self Discipline - Show Awesome Character.

· Suggest improvements; continuously improve the quality of all support activities.

· Adhere to all company personnel policies.

· Must be able to pass a drug screen.

· Regular attendance is essential.

· Other duties as assigned.

Education and/or Experience: High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Other Requirements:

· Ability to adapt in a rapidly changing environment.

· Ability to independently manage and organize individual projects and work as part of a team.

Language Skills/Mathematical Skills/Reasoning Ability

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and/or maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Strong verbal and written communication skills, spelling, and grammar in English. Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Computer Skills:

Knowledge of SAP preferred. Demonstrated proficiency of computers, office equipment and Microsoft Office suite.

The hiring range for this $60k-$80k annually Actual wages will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Link Snacks Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Link Snacks provides a variety of benefits to eligible Team Members, including medical, dental and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, 401k participation, paid holidays, and paid time off.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to be successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to sit, and reach with hands and arms.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant / office setting with varying degrees of temperatures and noise levels. Exposure to manufacturing equipment movement and wet / slippery floors. Travel may be required.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:
Link Snacks provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic that is protected by federal, state or local law.

E-VERIFY:
Link Snacks  is participant in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees.  For information about the E-Verify program, please visit:  http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employees