Buyer - Ingredients (Kansas)

Apply to this position

Job Title: Buyer - Ingredients (Kansas)
Location: Home Office, KS, USA

Company: Wilbur-Ellis Company
Industry Sector: Agribusiness
Industry Type: Input Retail, Cooperative and Related Crop Services
Job Type: Full Time

Job Description: Investing in You, join a 100-year-old, family-owned leader in Ag - and grow with us!

Wilbur-Ellis invests heavily in our employees by offering skill development and training, competitive compensation and benefits, and a tradition of promoting from within for a broad range of career opportunities. And we foster a supportive, people-first work environment.

"We know the confidence gap can get in the way of meeting spectacular candidates, so please don't hesitate to apply - we'd love to hear from you."

General Purpose and Scope of Position:

The Wilbur Ellis Company Nutrition Division is seeking a driven professional to create, develop, and execute merchandising plans. Someone to ensure adequate inventory of incoming materials as per specifications provided by high-level customers and internal product safety and quality standards. Create purchase orders, schedule, and ensure that assigned materials are available on a timely basis to support production and finished good requirements. The Wilbur-Ellis team is a high-energy one, whose members' longevity speaks to our positive work environment. Join us and enjoy a challenging career with lots of opportunity to grow a business, competitive compensation/bonus structure, and the inherent benefits of working for a strong and profitable industry leader.

Key Skills and Abilities:

Education: College degree in Supply Chain, Business, or equivalent experience.
Experience: 0-2 years in purchasing; experience in the pet industry is a plus.
ERP Proficiency: Experience navigating MRP systems and ERP software.
Inventory Management: Previous experience in managing inventory.
Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Problem Solving: Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities.
Interpersonal Skills: Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with suppliers/vendors.
Mathematical Skills: Strong aptitude for numbers and detail-oriented tasks.
Sales and Purchasing Knowledge: 1+ years of experience in Purchasing, Sales, or Inventory control.

Key Personal Attributes:

Strong drive to succeed with a creative, "can-do" attitude and high level of integrity.
Self-disciplined and motivated with strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.
Outgoing personality with the ability to handle cold calls and rejection.
Positive approach to business, adaptable, and proactive in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities and Deliverables:

Communicate with vendors for routine inquiries, open orders, backorders, freight rates, and pricing.
Maintain positive, professional contact with fellow employees and vendors at all times.
Monitor and expedite purchase orders to meet MRP and production requirements on a daily basis.
Update Vendor files and maintain up-to-date inventory records.
Assist in cost reduction strategies and provide in-depth supply chain analysis on a monthly and quarterly basis.
Track and consolidate micro inventories, Average Inventory Cost, Market Value, and Formulation Value.
Advise pricing team on Market Replacement Value and market forecasts.
Provide backup assistance to other department members as needed.
Create and manage purchase orders, including consigned goods and customer feedback adjustments.
Order supplies for the company and handle incoming damage material reports and customer performance tickets.
Schedule dock appointments and ensure information is entered accurately into purchase orders.
Perform any other duties assigned by management in a professional and efficient manner.
All other duties as assigned

Compensation and Benefits:

In compliance with all states and cities requiring transparency of pay, the base compensation for this position ranges from $57,000 - $76,080. Note that salary may vary based on location, skills, and experience.
This position is eligible for an annual discretionary bonus and vacation, holidays, health, dental, vision, mental health, and retirement plan participation, including an employer contribution of up to 7% into your 401(k). Follow this link for more information regarding Wilbur-Ellis employee benefits: https://bit.ly/3S8aDCj

Please note that salary ranges provided for this role on external job boards are salary estimates made by outside parties and may not be accurate.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

Diversity of people, cultures, opinions, and ideas makes us all stronger. From leadership commitment to employee buy-in, we know that creating an inclusive environment and providing opportunities for all employees to reach their full potential is a shared responsibility.

Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition, LLC is headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, and is a marketer and distributor of value-added feed ingredients in North America and Asia-Pacific. Wilbur Ellis provides feed solutions to our customers and suppliers in the Livestock, Pet Food, and Aquaculture Industries. Providing a complete supply chain, including logistics, warehousing, and customer service, in addition to expertise in import/export and regulatory, sets Wilbur-Ellis apart from our competitors. We understand the importance of providing on-time delivery of specified products and honoring our commitments to suppliers and customers.

Follow our career social media accounts!

Instagram: IG • TikTok: TikTok • Facebook: FB • LinkedIn: LinkedIn

To apply please click on APPLY TO THIS POSITION

Job Post Date: 06/26/25