Inventory/Purchasing Manager

The Inventory/Purchasing Manager owns inventory accuracy and the buying function at Homestyle Direct's Lewisburg, TN facility. This role plans, purchases and controls food product, packaging and operating supplies so the warehouse can fulfill customer meal orders on time, without stockouts or excess spoilage. The manager leads inventory control and purchasing staff, manages vendor relationships, and partners with Warehouse, Shipping, Finance and Customer Service leadership to balance service levels, cost and product freshness. Essential Duties & Responsibilities: Inventory Control Support • Support accurate inventory of frozen, refrigerated and shelf-stable products, packaging and supplies across all storage areas. • Support cycle counts, physical inventories and variance investigations; reconcile system records to on-hand counts. • Support in enforcing FIFO/FEFO rotation, lot and date-code tracking, and cold chain integrity to minimize spoilage and write-offs. • Support the reorder points, safety stock and par levels using demand history, forecasts and seasonality. • Support in tracking and report shrink, damage, expired product and adjustments, with root-cause analysis and corrective action. • Support product recalls and holds, including lot traceability and segregation. Purchasing & Procurement • Create, issue and track purchase orders for food products, packaging, dry ice/cold-pack materials and operating supplies. • Forecast material needs with Operations and Customer Service so inbound supply matches order volume. • Expedite late shipments and resolve shortages, overages, damages and pricing discrepancies. • Compare vendor pricing, quality and lead times; recommend cost-saving opportunities and alternate sources. • Partner with Accounts Payable to match receipts, POs and invoices ,and resolve billing issues. Vendor Management • Serve as primary contact for suppliers serving the Lewisburg facility. • Monitor vendor performance on fill rate, on-time delivery, quality and food safety documentation. • Negotiate pricing, terms and delivery schedules within approved authority limits. Leadership & Team Management • Hire, train, schedule and coach inventory control and purchasing staff. • Set clear performance expectations, conduct reviews and address performance issues in partnership with HR. • Promote a safe, accountable and respectful work environment consistent with HSD policies. Reporting & Systems • Use the warehouse management system (WMS), ERP and Excel to manage inventory and purchasing data. • Produce regular reports on inventory value, accuracy, turns, days on hand, spoilage and open POs. • Recommend and implement process improvements that raise accuracy and reduce carrying cost. Compliance & Safety • Follow food safety, sanitation, OSHA and company safety requirements in all storage and receiving areas. • Maintain purchasing and inventory records to support audits and regulatory reviews. • Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications: Required • High school diploma or GED. • 4+ years of inventory control, purchasing or procurement experience in a warehouse, distribution or manufacturing setting. • 2+ years supervising or leading a team. • Working knowledge of WMS/ERP inventory and purchasing modules. • Intermediate to advanced Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, basic forecasting). • Strong math, analytical and problem-solving skills with close attention to detail. • Clear written and verbal communication with vendors and internal teams. Physical Requirements & Work Environment • Work is split between an office and the warehouse floor, including refrigerated and freezer areas (as low as -10°F) for counts and inspections. • Must wear company-provided cold-weather gear and PPE in cold storage areas. • Regularly stand, walk, bend and climb stairs or ladders; occasionally lift up to 50 lbs. • Exposure to forklift and powered equipment traffic, noise and changing temperatures. • Occasional early, late or weekend hours for physical inventories, peak volume or supply disruptions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.