Junior Purchasing Manager / Junior Buyer

Confidential – Multi‑Unit Restaurant & Commissary Operations

About the Company

We are partnering with a rapidly growing, multi‑state restaurant group operating 25+ locations and multiple commissary kitchens across the West Coast and Southwest. As the organization continues to scale, the supply chain and purchasing function is being expanded to support growth while maintaining consistency, quality, and cost control across all locations.

This group operates in a high-volume, operationally complex environment, where purchasing accuracy and vendor coordination are critical to success.

Position Summary

The Junior Purchasing Manager (also referred to as Junior Buyer or Purchasing Coordinator) supports the purchasing and supply chain team with the execution of day‑to‑day procurement activities for food ingredients, packaging, and operating supplies used across restaurants and commissary kitchens.

This role is ideal for someone early in their purchasing or supply chain career who thrives on organization, accuracy, and collaboration, and who is eager to grow into a full Buyer or Purchasing Manager role within a multi‑unit restaurant organization.

The position works closely with Operations, Commissary leadership, and Accounting to ensure consistent product availability, pricing accuracy, and smooth purchasing execution.

Work Model & Schedule

This is a hybrid role (typically 3–4 days onsite) with a Monday–Friday schedule, supporting a centralized purchasing team based in the Seattle/Bellevue metro area.

Key Responsibilities

Purchasing & Order Execution

• Support daily purchasing of food ingredients, packaging, and operating supplies for multi‑location restaurant and commissary operations.
• Create, submit, and track purchase orders; confirm deliveries and follow up on delays or shortages.
• Maintain and update product lists, item setup, pricing files, vendor records, and order guides with a high degree of accuracy.
• Monitor inventory levels and communicate closely with commissary and restaurant teams to help ensure consistent supply.

Vendor & Distributor Coordination

• Assist with vendor communications related to order confirmations, backorders, substitutions, credits, and service issues.
• Help gather and document pricing, quotes, and product information from distributors and regional suppliers.
• Maintain organized vendor documentation to support pricing accuracy and operational continuity.

Quality & Operations Support

• Support quality and food safety standards by escalating product or delivery issues when identified.
• Coordinate approved substitutions when necessary in partnership with operations and commissary teams to minimize disruption.
• Assist with product testing, cuttings, and transitions related to menu updates or ingredient changes.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Accounting/AP to help verify invoices, resolve discrepancies, and maintain pricing accuracy.
• Provide purchasing support for new store openings, promotions, and menu rollouts.
• Assist with basic reporting and tracking related to usage trends, vendor performance, and recurring purchasing issues.

Qualifications

Required

• Restaurant or foodservice industry experience is required (operations, purchasing, inventory, commissary, distribution, or supply chain exposure).
• 1–3 years of experience in purchasing, procurement, inventory coordination, supply chain, or a related administrative role.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Clear, professional communication skills with both vendors and internal stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets; comfort working with item lists, pricing, and basic reports.

Preferred

• Experience with purchasing, inventory, or ERP systems (e.g., restaurant or foodservice platforms).
• Exposure to broadline distributors and specialty vendors.
• Familiarity with multi‑unit restaurant or commissary operations.

Ideal Candidate Traits

• Highly organized and process‑oriented
• Proactive problem solver who flags issues early
• Comfortable supporting multiple locations simultaneously
• Curious, coachable, and motivated to grow into a Buyer or Purchasing Manager role
• Calm under pressure and adaptable to changing priorities

Compensation & Benefits

A competitive compensation package is offered, along with health, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, a retirement plan, employee discounts, and clear opportunities for advancement within a growing restaurant organization. Compensation will be aligned to experience at the junior level.