Planner/Buyer Job at Creative Alignments in Boulder

Join NextFoods, a Colorado based growing wellness company establishing a new evolution of natural-focused brands for the modern wellness mindset.
NextFoods

NextFoods is the parent company of pioneering brands Cheribundi and GoodBelly, leaders in the functional food and beverage space. With products available in 20,000+ retail locations and growing eCommerce and sports team partnerships, we are dedicated to delivering scientifically backed nutrition for everyday wellness. Based in Boulder, CO, we are shaping the future of natural, whole-food nutrition.
About the Brands:
Cheribundi: The leader in natural sports nutrition, specializing in tart cherry juice that enhances recovery, sleep, and overall health. Cheribundi fuels over 400 professional and collegiate sports teams.
GoodBelly: A pioneer in probiotic-based gut health products, GoodBelly offers effective, everyday foods, beverages, and supplements to promote digestive balance and immunity.
What You Will Do

Reporting to and coordinating with the Director of Supply Chain, the Planner/Buyer manages procurement, inventory, and production scheduling, ensuring the timely acquisition of raw materials, packaging, and finished goods. This role collaborates closely with the Director of Supply Chain and cross-functional teams, including R&D, Sales, and Marketing, to optimize supply chain operations, reduce costs, and improve supplier performance. The Buyer/Planner will also play a pivotal role in implementing sustainable sourcing practices and driving operational efficiency.
Responsibilities:

• Execute and manage procurement of raw materials and packaging using our ERP system and planning system. This includes purchase orders and receipts, work orders and completions, and inventory transfer transactions.
• Procure necessary ingredients and packaging and work with contract manufacturers to ensure orders are completed and shipped on-time and in-full.
• Identify and qualify new suppliers. Source new products. Negotiate with suppliers to ensure pricing, quality, and delivery expectations are met.
• Oversee inventory levels to avoid shortages or overstock, optimizing turnover ratios.
• Conduct monthly inventory reconciliations and resolve variances with production and warehouses.
• Collaborate with the Director of Supply Chain to develop and maintain production schedules.
• Track and verify production outputs, including usage of raw materials and finished goods.
• Maintain accurate bills of material (BOMs) and production cost sheets.
• Identify and execute opportunities to streamline procurement and inventory processes. Identify cost-savings opportunities.
• Track and report on supply chain KPIs, including costs, lead times, and supplier performance.
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures and relevant work instructions to document and continuously improve supply chain processes.
• Support ERP system maintenance, including item master data and planning parameters.
• Perform other duties as assigned to meet company goals.

Who You Are

As with the other roles across this lean team, the Planner/Buyer role is broad, highly impactful, and hands-on. This role requires a talented professional with significant self-motivation and resourcefulness. You thrive on rolling up your sleeves and digging into the details to quickly identify and resolve challenges. The ideal candidate is a problem solver with strong troubleshooting skills and has a strong bias for action and results-driven mindset.
Qualifications:

• Minimum 2 years of experience in a Planner/Buyer or related role, preferably in a fast-paced, high growth company. CPG, food and beverage, experience desired.
• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, or related field preferred.
• Relevant professional certifications preferred (CSCP, CPIM, etc.)
• Proficiency in ERP systems and inventory management tools.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills. Advanced Excel skills.
• Willingness to get your hands dirty and do what is required to meet business needs with the attitude that no job is too small.
• A resilient team member who can think clearly under pressure and is energized by the rapidly changing nature of a small organization.
• Self-motivated and self-directed; able to act independently with minimal oversight.
• Strong time-management and people skills; flexibility and multitasking ability.
• Negotiation skills and experience building positive supplier relationships.
• US headquarters in CO with flexible and hybrid office/home working options. Candidates can expect frequent travel (25%) to the office in CO or contract manufacturing locations.

Benefits

•Compensation - $65k - $85k annually depending on experience
•Medical and dental insurance
•401(k) with up to 4% match
•Paid vacation, holiday, and sick time
•Stock options and more