Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is the leading local hunger-relief organization in the state with locations in Milwaukee and Appleton. Founded in 1982 by the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is a local and independent member of the Feeding America network. Driven by our mission to solve hunger and our vision of a hunger-free Wisconsin, we are bringing more people together around the table to collaboratively address the root causes of hunger. Together with our network partners, we serve nearly half a million food-insecure people across 35 counties in eastern Wisconsin each year.

JOB PURPOSE:

To manage, coordinate and execute food purchasing, vendor payments, tracking and product code maintenance of purchased products as well as food from government sources. Develop purchasing strategy for Agency Purchasing Consortium, Food Fund, Special Programs, grant-funded and donor underwritten purchases. Serve as the team lead for all Government-related surveys, processing of TEFAP and other government-related products orders. Manage a portfolio of vendors to source food from in cooperation with the donor relationship team. Liaise with Feeding WI and the network of Wisconsin food banks on collaborative commodity purchases.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for developing and managing the execution for purchasing commodities and program-specific items.
• Responsible for all of the procurement details with TEFAP negotiations and product selection.
• Manage the execution of shared purchasing.
• Manage all vendors to ensure metrics around food safety, packaging, transportation, code dating, etc.… are being met.
• Maintain the inventory levels/turn levels/service levels.
• Ensure product mix between all source types is broad and does not overlap unnecessarily.
• Coordinate with our internal and external partners to obtain the necessary quality notes that specify standards and nutritional needs for each product.
• Oversee on-time submittal of delivery notification / receipts to Feeding America and all vendors.
• Liaise with Warehouse as needed (troubleshoot delivery / receiving issues, etc.)
• Collect, maintain and analyze relevant data.
• Coordinate and execute projects when deemed necessary, including reports for Senior Leadership, Quarterly Business Meetings, Communications and PR, and Food Industry Council meetings.
• Oversee the collaborative purchasing program inclusive of Wisconsin food banks by leveraging best practice to ensure competitive pricing, quality of items, and product assortment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate’s Degree preferred or 2-3 years of relatable experience.
• 2-3 years of supervisor experience preferred
• Strong demonstrated oral and written communication skills
• Food Industry knowledge and 2 years purchasing experience Preferred.
• Food safety training or the willingness to obtain certification; HACCP and AIB experience is a plus.
• Commitment to understand and support FAEW’s mission, vision, and effective actions to end food insecurity and its causes.
• Respect for the people FAEW serves
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated knowledge of trends and best practices in the food procurement function.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Motivated, attention to detail, independent worker who can meet or exceed results.
• Strong demonstrated analytical and organizational skills
• Strong computer skills – specifically Microsoft Excel, Word, Power Point, database systems.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Experience in establishing and executing sound business practices including planning and analysis.
• Demonstrate the ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be open-minded of differing opinions and views.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and/or hear, and/or use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand, and/or walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds while moving files or medium packages. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in an office environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual encounter while performing the essential functions of this position.

REMOTE WORK:

The ability to work from home is a flexible work arrangement that Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin (FAEW) offers to enable employees to achieve a more successful balance between work responsibilities and family life. FAEW may offer this option to employees when it benefits both the organization and the employee. However, our FAEW facilities serve as a critical hub for collaboration and, while we want to embrace flexibility, the need to be in the office or out in the field and working on projects or networking through natural camaraderie, will be expected. This position does have the capacity to work from home in our hybrid work from home model.

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Inc. is committed to fostering diversity in our workplace. FAEW does not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of age, race, color, creed, religion, handicap, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical disability, mental disability, or veteran status. Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.