Global Buyer Raw Materials

Title of Role: Global Buyer 

Reports to: Global Manager of Sourcing

Department: Global Sourcing

FLSA Designation: Salaried/Exempt 

Supervision Received/Exercised: No direct supervision exercised. 

East West Tea Company is seeking a talented, passionate, and experienced buyer to join our global sourcing team to do the complex work of sourcing botanicals, spices, extracts, and flavors around the world. 

Role Summary 

The Global Buyer is an essential role within the global sourcing team and is responsible for managing strategic partnerships with ethically and sustainably aligned partners and contracting for direct raw materials for both the US and EU based operations. This role optimizes transparency within our supply chains while delivering high quality raw materials within a manufacturing environment.  In compliance with EWTC’s sourcing strategy, the role will execute against long term strategic sourcing initiatives, maintain global supplier relationships, and ensure regulatory compliance in both the US and EU. This role will also be involved in cost management, cross-functional partnership, inventory control, data analysis, and order administration.

This position is located in Eugene, Oregon with remote work supported. Occasional domestic and international travel is required.

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

Global Sustainable Sourcing                                  40% of time

•    Collaborate directly with global buyers and directors to align and execute global sourcing strategy.

•    Develop and maintain global supplier relationships to increase transparency, support social and environmental sustainability, and reduce supply chain risk

•    Develop and maintain global long-term agreements to reduce risk, increase transparency, and support global sustainability initiatives with support from Manager and Director

•    Source raw materials from origin and/or through intermediaries through in-depth analysis of market trends, careful risk assessments of supply chains, logical examination of the economic opportunity, and skillful knowledge of regulatory environment in the US and EU for all materials in portfolio

•    Support supply chain sustainability projects to with regards to regenerative agriculture, supply chain transparency. and social sustainability.

•    Support the collection of carbon footprint information.

•    Travel to origin as needed to support sourcing and sustainability initiatives.

Operational Buying                                     40% of time

•    Supports the production facility in ensuring optimal inventory levels are maintained and any shortages are anticipated and mitigated with urgency. 

•    Support continuous improvement within technical quality parameters and supplier performance metrics with special regard for delivery performance.

•    Manage the logistics process to ensure all documentation control in place and coordination where needed with external logistic partners.

•    Lead global supplier reviews to drive supplier performance.  

•    Monitor industry publications and other sources within tea, herb, and spice industries for relevant data to inform strategic planning, risk mitigation, and sourcing decisions. 

•    Contribute to a successful short- and medium-term risk management within the organization.

Cross Functional and Team Collaboration                         20% of time 

•    Engage and lead cross functionally to support development, commercialization, and special projects for US operations.

•    Establish, nurture, and develop partnerships with stakeholders laterally and vertically across the organization.

Ability to:  

•    Negotiate effectively to manage costs.

•    Collaborate effectively among all levels of the organization.

•    Communicate effectively verbally or through writing.

•    Take initiative, plan, and execute tasks independently.

•    Build relationships with demonstrated ability to listen.

•    Remain objective and results oriented in complex situations.

•    Apply analytics and sound judgement to inform decision making.

•    Successfully manage competing priorities and expectations

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

•    Work is primarily done in an office setting with sitting/standing required for extended periods of time.

•    Occasional warehouse environment exposure which includes noise, dust, forklifts, and fluctuations in temperature 

•    Comfort and ability to travel to remote and/or underdeveloped locations as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

•    Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in agriculture, business or related field, and/or

•    3+ years of relevant work experience in a sourcing role

•    Organic food, beverage or dietary supplement experience preferred.

•    Prior buying responsibility with similar spend responsibility; includes prior sourcing experience.

•    High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint and ERP systems