Inventory & Purchasing Clerk

Description

Position Title: Inventory & Purchasing Clerk

Reports To: Procurement Supervisor

FLSA Status: Hourly/Non-Exempt

Job Grade: 2

Pay Range: $22.00-$31.00 per hour

Date Revised: February 2025

Position Overview:

The Inventory Clerk/Purchasing Associate is responsible for managing physical inventory counts, assisting with the receipt and stocking of new parts, and maintaining inventory records within the Preventative Maintenance Management Information System at Cayuga Milk Ingredients (CMI). This role also supports procurement operations by ordering and purchasing production parts, resolving purchase order and delivery issues, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Additionally, the Inventory & Purchasing Clerk will provide administrative assistance to key personnel, including the Procurement Supervisor, Plant Engineer, Technical Process Manager, and Maintenance Manager.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain inventory records and manage inventory levels of production and maintenance parts, stockroom supplies, and janitorial materials.
• Utilize and update the Preventative Maintenance Management Information System (currently Asset Essentials).
• Coordinate with vendors to reduce costs, improve operational efficiency, and develop procurement programs.
• Organize and label equipment, storage areas, and inventory according to 5S standards.
• Process purchase orders, invoices, inventory control sheets, and packing lists accurately.
• Receive and physically count incoming parts and supplies.
• Manage procurement operations for the plant and Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), including resolving purchase order and delivery discrepancies.
• Support the development and management of a Vendor Scorecard Program to optimize supplier performance.
• Establish and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the procurement department, ensuring annual targets are met.
• Participate in relevant training sessions, webinars, and seminars to stay updated on procurement software and industry standards.
• Ensure compliance with all New York State Agriculture and Markets, FDA, USDA, OSHA, and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) policies.
• Adhere to chemical handling procedures and safety protocols to maintain a safe work environment.
• Assist with facility-wide quality, sanitation, warehouse, and maintenance needs as required.

Qualifications & Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required; technical or associate degree preferred.
• Experience in food manufacturing, chemical processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, or a similar industry preferred.
• Knowledge of manufacturing equipment, regulatory compliance, and food safety standards, particularly in the dairy/food industry.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team with minimal supervision.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Flexibility to work 8-hour shifts, overtime, or other schedules based on business needs.
• Experience operating standard manufacturing equipment such as forklifts and pallet jacks is a plus.
• Familiarity with GMP, FDA, SQF, and other regulatory standards is beneficial.

Physical Requirements:

· Ability to navigate all areas of the facility, including office spaces, warehouse areas, and the exterior perimeter.

· Must wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) as necessary to safely perform job duties.

· Ability to stand, sit, and carry out tasks throughout a full shift, with appropriate meal breaks.

· Physically capable of standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, twisting, lifting, pushing, pulling, climbing, balancing, and crouching as needed.

· Able to lift and move items weighing up to 50 pounds independently and heavier objects with reasonable accommodations.

· Visual acuity sufficient to perform job duties accurately.

· Capable of assessing weights, judging distances, and working at various heights.

Work Schedule:

Typically, Monday-Friday between 730am-4pm. The start and stop time can flex at the discretion of the supervisor as long as the needs of the business are met.

Compensation:

At Cayuga Milk Ingredients, we value a fair and comprehensive approach to compensation. Our wage range for this role is determined by various factors, including skill sets, experience, training, licensure, certifications, and organizational needs. It is not typical for an employee to start at or near the top of the range for the position. Compensation decisions are made based on individual job circumstances considering skill level, previous experience, and education requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Cayuga Milk Ingredients is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Non-Discrimination Policy:

The contractor will not discriminate against employees or applicants for discussing or disclosing their own pay or the pay of others. However, employees with access to compensation information as part of their job duties are prohibited from disclosing this information to unauthorized individuals, except in specific circumstances outlined by applicable laws and regulations (41 CFR 60-1.35(c)).

General Statement:

All Cayuga employees recognize that the success and prosperity of the company is everyone’s responsibility. All employees are expected to treat each other in a positive, respectful, and professional manner, to be at work for their assigned shift and to work safely as a team. Employees must be self-starters who can relate to all levels of the organization.

Disclaimer:

o All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

o This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor.

o The company reserves the right to add to or revise an employee's job duties at any time at its sole discretion.

o This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

Requirements

Qualifications & Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required; technical or associate degree preferred.
• Experience in food manufacturing, chemical processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, or a similar industry preferred.
• Knowledge of manufacturing equipment, regulatory compliance, and food safety standards, particularly in the dairy/food industry.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team with minimal supervision.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Flexibility to work 8-hour shifts, overtime, or other schedules based on business needs.
• Experience operating standard manufacturing equipment such as forklifts and pallet jacks is a plus.
• Familiarity with GMP, FDA, SQF, and other regulatory standards is beneficial.

Physical Requirements:
· Ability to navigate all areas of the facility, including office spaces, warehouse areas, and the exterior perimeter.· Must wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) as necessary to safely perform job duties.· Ability to stand, sit, and carry out tasks throughout a full shift, with appropriate meal breaks.· Physically capable of standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, twisting, lifting, pushing, pulling, climbing, balancing, and crouching as needed.· Able to lift and move items weighing up to 50 pounds independently and heavier objects with reasonable accommodations.· Visual acuity sufficient to perform job duties accurately.· Capable of assessing weights, judging distances, and working at various heights.

Work Schedule:
Typically, Monday-Friday between 730am-4pm. The start and stop time can flex at the discretion of the supervisor as long as the needs of the business are met.

Compensation:
At Cayuga Milk Ingredients, we value a fair and comprehensive approach to compensation. Our wage range for this role is determined by various factors, including skill sets, experience, training, licensure, certifications, and organizational needs. It is not typical for an employee to start at or near the top of the range for the position. Compensation decisions are made based on individual job circumstances considering skill level, previous experience, and education requirements.