Procurement Operations Analyst

About Imbibe

Imbibe is a dynamic, high-growth food and beverage development company based in Niles, Illinois. We specialize in developing, creating, and manufacturing beverage flavors, ingredient systems, and finished food and beverage products. Our mission is to design ingredients with impact for the food and beverage industry.

Since our founding in 1963, Imbibe has been at the forefront of flavor innovation and product development. We offer a comprehensive range of services, including full product development, taste modulation, and finished product solutions. Our state-of-the-art campus features an Innovation Center and Pilot Plant that enable us to tackle industry-wide taste and texture challenges, ensuring that our clients receive the highest quality products.

At Imbibe, we pride ourselves on our entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to continuous improvement. Our values of collaboration, accountability, and entrepreneurship drive us to deliver exceptional results for our clients. We also believe in giving back to the community. Through various initiatives we support efforts to combat food insecurity in the Chicagoland area by donating ingredients and our time.

If you're passionate about the food and beverage industry and eager to make a meaningful impact, Imbibe is the place for you. Let's create something extraordinary together!

Summary of Position
The Procurement Operations Analyst will be a member of Imbibe’s Supply Chain & Operations team holding the key responsibility of managing the commercialization process of Imbibe-developed products, ensuring timely market readiness. Working closely with Sales, R&D, and Operations teams, this individual will proactively resolve challenges and ensure a seamless supply of materials, helping us meet customer expectations and production schedules. This individual will lead initiatives to enhance supply chain resilience, including overseeing raw material procurement and driving secondary sourcing efforts. With a focus on building strong relationships with suppliers and co-manufacturers, the Procurement Operations Analyst will ensure smooth operations across the entire supply chain. In addition, this individual will have the opportunity to lead special supply chain projects and contribute to Imbibe’s continuous growth. 

Essential Job Duties

• Manage all aspects of the commercialization process to ensure Imbibe developed products are ready for market sale.
  • Oversee premix blend submissions with Imbibe vendor’s and ensure adherence to project timelines.  
  • Analyze commercialization data and report on key performance indicators to the Supply Chain & Operations Team and take action to maintain or improve desired results.
• Continuously work with Sales, R&D and Operations teams to understand raw material-related challenges and address those with the suppliers to ensure uninterrupted supply.  
  • Review raw material issues emerging during product development and take action to minimize their effect on the product.
• Collaborate with Customer Service and Supply Chain Planning to ensure customer order timelines are met for Ingredient Systems and Senses.
  • Manage the purchase of raw materials including order placement, tracking and follow up to ensure on-time delivery to support production schedules. 
  • Monitor the receipt of inventory to ensure proper invoices are presented to accounting and resolve discrepancies as they arise. 
  • Monitor customer forecasts and communicate demand changes to suppliers. Recommend stocking agreements as needed to prevent supply disruptions for high-risk materials.
  • Perform monthly inventory reconciliation to ensure ERP system inventory is accurate and in-line with Imbibe’s co-manufacturers. 
  • Oversee the expired raw material process between Imbibe and our co-manufacturer to ensure timely resolution.
• Lead secondary sourcing projects to strengthen supply chain resilience for all product categories.
• Serve as the primary project manager for procurement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Imbibe suppliers and co-manufacturers.
• Monitor freight operations to ensure competitive pricing while maintaining service quality.
• Lead special supply chain projects as assigned by leadership.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, supply chain management, or other relevant field.
• 2+ years of experience in procurement or purchasing.
• Demonstrated project management experience leading cross-functional teams to successful outcomes.
• Proven experience in data analysis and forecasting, with the ability to translate data into meaningful business insights.
• Demonstrated knowledge of core business processes, including order-to-cash and procurement cycles.  
• Familiarity with risk assessment and risk management practices in a business context.
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to communicate information and exchange ideas with high attention to detail.
• Results oriented and takes ownership of goals and objectives.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and comfortable with changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to remain in a stationary sitting position 75% of the time. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ERP systems (e.g. Microsoft Dynamics NAV) is highly valuable.
• Experience with PMS systems (e.g. Workfront) is highly valuable.
• Experience in the Food and Beverage industry is preferred. 

Working Conditions

• Office setting
• Hybrid schedule

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range listed represents the expected earnings for this role. The low end of the range reflects the starting salary for candidates with less experience or qualifications that meet the basic requirements for the position. The high end of the range reflects potential earnings for candidates with extensive experience, specialized skills, or qualifications above the standard requirements for the role.

Imbibe supports employee well-being and professional growth by offering a comprehensive benefits package that includes the following: 

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision care
• 401k retirement plan with company contribution and match
• FSA and HSA account
• Generous company holidays, PTO, and sick time
• Onsite gym and wellness opportunities 
• Paid parental leave
• Life and disability insurance
• Learning and professional development opportunities