Job Description

Purchasing Analyst/Specialist

ABOUT US

LFR Chicken LLC is the franchisor the Lee’s Famous Recipe® Chicken brand. Lee’s is a regionally focused, quick service restaurant chain founded in 1966 specializing in fresh, never-frozen chicken, home-style sides and biscuits. Today, there are 130 Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken locations in 12 U.S. states and in Canada that are all individually owned and operated. With a new ownership group and leadership team in place, the brand is actively working to reinvent itself and has aggressive growth plans for the future. Working as a member of Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken corporate team feels like managing a legacy brand and joining a start up company all at the same time.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

The Purchasing Analyst/Specialist is a full-time role residing in LFR Chicken Procurement, a department responsible for managing the brand’s supply chain activities, including sourcing, contracting and category management. The critical position fills an important role supporting the quality control function that resides in R&D/Product Development. This supply chain position will also work closely with other key corporate support functions including operations, accounting and marketing. This role has flexibility to work remote or on-site at the following LFR Chicken LLC office locations:

· Destin/Ft Walton Beach, FL (Corporate Home Office, FL Panhandle area)

· Earth City, MO (Regional Office-St. Louis, MO area) 

· New Carlisle, OH (Regional Office-Dayton, Ohio area 

The Purchasing Analyst/Specialist is comprised primarily of various duties including but not limited to the following:

· Maintaining and managing the existing supply chain technology applications from the corporate network level to the user level.

· Ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of procurement applications and information systems, including contract management systems, Arrowstream supply chain management systems and FSIM (Foodservice Incident Management)

· Taking ownership of FSIM day-to-day operation, maintaining roster of current unit-based users and supplier contacts

· Maintaining all current active negotiated supplier pricing agreements, including input of all pricing files into distributors and Arrowstream contract management application.

· Identification and troubleshooting pricing errors as well as other supplier related issues.

· Providing ongoing support to store level management personnel, including solving routine service-related day-to-day problems with product distribution, appropriately elevating issues where necessary. 

· Coordinating with suppliers and other internal stakeholders for problem identification, analysis and prompt resolution.

· Engaging in quality control process to collect relevant data and communicate to key internal and external stakeholders.

· Partners with Culinary, R&D and Marketing on product innovation, product optimization, new product launches and LTO’s. 

• Communicating with upper management to provide updates on project status, identify potential issues proactively and develop meaningful analytics

· Responsibilities include routine administrative duties such as addressing unit management and supplier inquiries, incoming calls and requests for information.

· Fully supports and builds commitment among ley stakeholders around company strategic initiatives. 

· Perform other related duties, tasks and responsibilities as required from time to time.

QUALIFICATIONS

· Foodservice, hospitality and restaurant industry knowledge and experience preferred but not essential.

• Preferred 1-3 years’ experience in supply chain, distribution, logistics, customer service, or related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain management, accounting, finance or equivalent work experience.
• Some knowledge and systems proficiency with ERP, Power BI, Arrowstream or i-Trade and intermediate technical skills in Microsoft Applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) is preferred, but not required.
• Working knowledge of routine sourcing, negotiating and contracting activities, including familiarity with formal structured request for proposal (RFP) processes is a plus.
• Working knowledge of food, supplies and equipment used in restaurant/foodservice is helpful, along with basic understanding of operational aspects of a restaurant operation. 
• Ability to handle multiple tasks, thrive in a fast-paced environment, meet deadlines and communicate across levels of the organization, utilizing effective written and oral communication skills.
• Problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities along with high attention to detail and organizational skills.

EXPERIENCE

Our ideal candidate would have at least 2 years of relevant experience and the ability to manage multiple priorities. Required proficiency with the Microsoft suite of programs and experience with purchasing/supply chain software preferred, but not a necessity. The position requires a high degree of professionalism including the ability to handle sensitive information with integrity and confidentiality. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Our corporate main office located in Shalimar, FL, is part of the scenic Florida Panhandle area. Regional offices are also operated in the St Louis area (Earth City, MO) and Dayton area. (New Carlisle, OH). Office hours are 8:30am – 4:30pm CDT Monday through Friday. As workload or special projects require, additional availability may be required. This is a salaried position, is non-exempt and the compensation is between $ 55,000 to $65,000 annually. Benefits offered to employees include paid time off, paid holidays, health, dental and vision insurance, 401k matching and other life and disability insurance offerings.

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