Purchasing Associate of Packaging - Water Lilies Food, LLC. : Job Details

Job Description

Position: Purchasing Associate of Packaging

Department: Procurement

Reports to: Purchasing Manager

Date: October 2024

About the Company:

Water Lilies Food, LLC is a private equity-backed manufacturer and distributor of premium Asian-inspired food. Established for 25 years, the company moved in 2020 to a new state-of-the-art facility in Bay Shore, NY (Suffolk County Long Island) and is experiencing rapid growth. We are developing and supplying product for some of the leading retailers, wholesalers, and branded Asian-appetizer businesses. Our Vision is to be the preferred supplying partner of premium Asian-inspired food. We achieve this by living up to our Mission to deliver our products and services with attention to detail, a continuous improvement mindset, agility, and authenticity. Our culture is a place where employees can have a meaningful impact on the business and organization. We work collaboratively and humbly strive to get better every day while being respectful of all talents and backgrounds. The company is embarking on another major expansion project and is expecting to more than double the business in the next 3-5 years.

Job Summary:

The Purchasing Associate of Packaging will be responsible for the development, purchase and management of all packaging materials (corrugated, cartons, printed and clear films, etc.) for the production needs for a $100M+ high velocity food business. The role will report to the Purchasing Manager and work closely and cross-function with business colleagues and customers. At Water Lilies Food we are a collaborative and non-hierarchical organization. This is an entry-level position with the opportunity to develop within the role and for promotion within the company.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate between suppliers, food safety & quality and operations teams, and customers to develop new packaging solutions and to manage existing business' packaging needs.
• Execute complex technical assignments including new package design, artwork and specifications developing new sizes and die lines, updating customer and handling customer relationships.
• Handling multiple projects at once, working with external suppliers, operations, engineering, marketing, customers, and procurement to ensure packaging objectives are met.
• Work closely with suppliers and operations to ensure packaging availability including overseeing ordering, inventory management, and delivery scheduling.
• Identify, conduct, and analyze package performance testing on materials and components.
• Approval of invoices for packaging materials for Finance.

Requirements / Competencies:

• Associates or equivalent work experience. Technical degree in graphic and/or industrial arts and engineering a plus but not required.
• 1-2 years' experience in manufacturing facility preferred and knowledge of food quality practices is a plus (HACCP, GMP, USDA)
• Experience with QuickBooks or FishBowl is a benefit, but not required
• Demonstrated problem solving mastery within own technical field and the ability to be persuasive and effective while also being collaborative.
• Attention to detail and a solid understanding of technical specifications, and experience with paperboard, corrugate, film, and plastic packaging materials, among others.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, and the ability to interact and collaborate with suppliers, external resources, customers, consultants and colleagues to achieve project objectives. Cross-functioning is essential.
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced creative environment and execute multiple tasks across multiple projects at once while anticipating the needs of others while also being reliable.
• Logistics and/or warehouse management exposure are also a plus but not required. Must be willing to work onsite at our Bay Shore, NY location 4-5 days a week.

Physical Requirements:

The employee will occasionally move within the office to access office machinery, file cabinets, and collaborate with colleagues. Consistent use of office equipment, such equipment may include but not limited to computers, phones, printers, and copiers. The employee will be required to frequently communicate with both internal staff members as well as external parties or customers and must be able to convey accurate information. This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions, it does not exclude or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change based on company needs as expressed by management.