Job Description
Build your best future with the Easy Ice team- Cool Careers Start Here!
We’re a growing company that provides an all-inclusive commercial ice machine subscription to business owners nationwide. We’ve been changing our industry for the better since we started in 2009, and we’re not slowing down anytime soon. As a member of our team, you’ll be helping restaurants, bars, hospitals, hotels, and other businesses get the ice they need without spending a fortune or stressing out. We’ll invest in your professional development and overall quality of life because we know employee satisfaction is key to our success. Easy Ice doesn’t just want to be the #1 commercial ice machine solution in America—we also want to be one of the best places to work.
Join a winning team that enables you to build your best future! Our teams are uniquely positioned to support a multitude of industries across the globe. You will have the opportunity to develop yourself through meaningful work projects and learning opportunities. We strive to provide our employees with an experience, focused on supporting their physical, financial, and emotional wellbeing. Become a member of the Easy Ice team and thrive in an empowering company culture where your voice and ideas will be heard – your next great opportunity is just a few clicks away!
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Buyer, Supply Chain drives end‑to‑end procurement execution for Easy Ice, owning category strategies, sourcing, and replenishment of used equipment are available at the right cost, quality, and time. This role forecasts demand with Operations and Finance, converts plans into purchase orders, and manages supplier performance, negotiating pricing, terms, lead times, and rebates while enforcing SLAs and resolving shortages, expedites, and quality issues. The Buyer maintains accurate item masters, safety stocks, and reorder points in the ERP, analyzes MRP signals, and optimizes inventory turns across branches and the central DC. Acting as the primary liaison to vendors and OEMs, the Buyer qualifies new sources, executes RFQs, evaluates total cost of ownership, and mitigates supply risk through multi‑sourcing and continuity plans. They coordinate inbound logistics (incoterms, freight mode, delivery appointments), collaborate with AP to reconcile discrepancies, and drive cost‑savings projects, contract compliance, and data integrity. The Buyer also partners with Field Service and Technical Services to introduce new parts and retire obsolete SKUs, providing clear change communication to stakeholders and measurable results against KPIs for cost, on‑time delivery, and inventory health.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES:
- Identify, evaluate, and pursue national used equipment opportunities for ice machines, storage bins, condensers and other opportunities to support inventory growth and cost optimization.
- Translate demand plans and MRP signals from the LSC into accurate, timely purchase orders; maintain optimal safety stocks, reorder points, and lead‑time parameters.
- Source, qualify, and manage suppliers/OEMs; run RFQs, compare total cost of ownership, negotiate pricing, terms, rebates, and delivery/service commitments (SLAs).
- Monitor supplier performance (on‑time delivery, quality, fill rate); drive corrective actions, expedites, and recovery plans for late, short, or defective shipments.
- Balance inventory across branches/DC: execute transfers, set min/max levels, and proactively prevent stockouts and slow‑moving or obsolete inventory.
- Partner with Operations, Field Service, and Technical Services to introduce new equipment and sunset obsolete SKUs; coordinate change notices and cut‑in dates.
- Manage PO lifecycle end‑to‑end: confirmations, ship dates, ASN/doc collection, delivery appointments, and receiving issue resolution with warehouse teams.
- Collaborate with Logistics to choose freight modes and carriers; optimize landed cost while meeting service levels for urgent field needs.
- Reconcile pricing and quantity variances with AP; resolve invoice discrepancies, credits, and returns/RMAs with vendors.
- Lead cost‑reduction and value‑engineering initiatives with quantified savings tracked to KPIs.
- Produce and maintain procurement dashboards: cost, OTD, inventory turns, PPV, and supplier scorecards; present risks and mitigation plans to leadership.
- Ensure policy and contract compliance (ethics, approvals, delegation of authority); support audits and maintain complete purchasing documentation in the LSC.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Education: Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, operations, business, or related field; equivalent experience considered.
Experience:
- 3–5 years purchasing/buying experience in equipment (ice machine industry preferred).
- Proficiency with an LSC/ERP (item master, MRP, PO lifecycle, vendor master); strong Excel/Sheets skills (vlookup/xlookup, pivot tables).
- Demonstrated supplier management: RFQs, price/term negotiation, lead-time agreements, rebates, and SLA enforcement.
- Data accuracy discipline: version control, units of measure, costs, locations, and audit-ready documentation.
- Inventory planning competency: safety stock, reorder points, MOQ/EOQ, lead-time variability, and transfer balancing across DC/branches.
- Logistics coordination: carrier selection, freight mode trade-offs, incoterms, delivery appointments, and landed-cost awareness.
- Variance resolution: experience reconciling pricing/quantity discrepancies with AP; handling returns/RMAs and credits.
- Analytical mindset with KPI ownership (OTD, fill rate, PPV, inventory turns); ability to build and interpret dashboards.
- Strong communication and vendor-relations skills; able to escalate, influence, and drive corrective action cross-functionally.
- Organization and prioritization in a fast-paced environment; able to manage many open POs and expedites simultaneously.
- Integrity and policy compliance: understanding of delegation of authority, competitive sourcing ethics, and contract adherence.
- Preferred: experience with OEM suppliers; multi-site service or field-operations support; basic SQL or BI tool familiarity.
Other Desired Skills:
- Supplier relationship agility: can de‑escalate tense situations, influence outcomes, and secure win‑win terms.
- Advanced spreadsheet and data skills (index/xlookup, power query, pivot modeling); comfort with BI dashboards.
- Cost/price analytics (should‑cost, price‑break modeling, freight impact, TCO sensitivity analysis).
- Continuous‑improvement mindset (Kaizen/Lean basics) applied to procure‑to‑pay and inventory accuracy.
- Clear written documentation for LSC item/vendor records, change notices, and SOP updates.
- Curiosity and market awareness: tracks OEM changes, lead‑time risks, and alternates to mitigate supply disruption.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- Work primarily in a climate controlled environment with minimal safety/health hazard potential.
- Sedentary, sitting, walking, occasional lifting (overhead, waist level) from floor, bending, frequent near vision use for reading and computer use.
- Sits for extended periods of time.
- Must have sufficient visual acuity to be able to work, for prolonged periods of time, on a computer monitor.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified.
Easy Ice is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.