Home Chef is building new ways to provide meal solutions that meet a wide variety of customer needs, and shipping locations both online and in store. Our team is a unique mix of creators, chefs, entrepreneurs, and trailblazers and we’re growing quickly. Our customer-first mentality, combined with a zest for supporting our peers, helped us bring home Built in Chicago’s Startup of the Year Moxie award in 2017. If you’re ready to be part of the action, we’re ready to connect with you. There are no limits to where we can go together.

As the COVID-19 situation continues to escalate in the US and around the world, we are committed to keeping our teams and their families as our greatest priority. To that end, we are making some adjustments to the way we will be doing business in the upcoming weeks.

We are taking all the necessary precautions to keep our employees and customers safe, and would love to have you on our team as we can continue to serve our communities.

Summary of Responsibilities: 

The Sr. Buyer (Packaging) is responsible for planning replenishment orders of all non-food items for our fulfillment centers. They are responsible for communication and forecasting with vendors, determining order quantities based on forward demand, and ensuring all product arrives prior to production, as well as working to improve purchasing KPIs (warehouse utilization %, packaging shorts, forward coverage). 

Detailed Responsibilities:

• Non-Food Procurement:
• Manage ordering process by balancing lead times, forecast variability, and facility storage capacities to create an effective supply plan
• Forecast timely, accurate orders with Home Chef vendors and communicate forecasting plan to junior buyers to ensure timely PO’s are cut for delivery
•  Anticipate product needs based on plant inventories, and plan replenishments based on best available information
• Utilize Home Chef ERP system and/or supply models to track in-house inventoryBalance packaging costs with product quality by sourcing product from vendors that can meet Home Chef’s delivery dates, quality expectations and COGS targets
• Provide timely order information as per the non-food team’s daily cadence to allow junior buyers to cut orders during normal working hours
• Manage a working safety stock, and account for coverage with weekly variations in inventory, in order to prevent packaging shortages, especially as part of weekend production
• Be primary person responsible to reply to the plant as the face of packaging for: minor vendor issues, delivery timing, congestion complaints, supply questions - this sometimes requires availability to handle emergency situations (supply scenarios requiring action in order to ship boxes) in the evening and on weekends




• Vendor & Fulfillment Center Communication:
• Regular communication with the plant for any abnormalities to normal purchasing and delivery schedule
• Onboard new vendors by reviewing Home Chef ordering model, and overall expectations needed to support the planning and warehouse functions
• Document any vendor and/or warehouse concerns and work with supply chain managers to resolve as needed
• Balance vendor expectations with Home Chef expectations in regard to forecasting, and work through any discrepancies
• Ability to align and adjust orders seasonally to warehouse available capacity based on available space




• Improve Purchasing Function Accuracy:
• Attend and prepare for daily and weekly purchasing KPI meetings
• Work with junior buyers to determine root cause for shortages/overages and put action plans in place as needed
• Monitor accuracy of supply planning models for accuracy, and continuously evaluate tools’ effectiveness at providing an accurate supply planOther projects as needed

Qualifications: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed for this role.

• 1+ years of experience as a buyer or procurement analyst
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with an ERP system preferred
• Above average experience in excel and problem-solving using analytical information
• Ability to balance numerous priorities in a fast paced environment
• Completion of 4-year degree

Perks/Benefits:

- Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance – benefits start the 1st day of the month following your start date 

- Company paid Life Insurance, Short Term Disability and Long Term Disability

- 401k Employer match - 50% on the $1, up to 6% of the employee's earnings 

- We offer flexible spending accounts (FSA) for qualified Medical, Dependent Care, Parking, or Transit expenses

- Flexible paid time off (PTO) policy, plus sick days 

- Generous Parental Leave 

- Great Work/Life Balance – We value and support each individual team member

- Quarterly company-wide “Town Hall” meetings 

- Ongoing professional development opportunities by level and function

- Your choice of Windows or Mac laptop, plus an extra screen 

- Onsite gym 

- Weekly Fooda credit

- Newly renovated office in the historic Old Main Post Office which is located close to multiple Metra and CTA options

- Employee discounts through Perkspot

- Discounts on Home Chef meal kits and at Kroger stores

- Casual dress in a fun, friendly and collaborative work environment

Candidates can experience Home Chef as a customer - enter promo code PEOPLE30 for $30 off your first order!

Home Chef is an equal opportunity employer.

To view the California Applicant Notice click here