Associate Buyer

Associate Buyer

Department: Purchasing 500012

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Troy - Innovation Center

Reporting To: Anna Savone-Caiozzo

Description

A Taste of Who We Are:

Backed by a tireless commitment to high quality, innovative culinary offerings and unparalleled client and guest services, Continental consistently ranks among the top contract dining and refreshment providers in the nation according to Food Management Magazine, the industry's source for food service news and trends.

Our Mission

Delight our guest. Every meal. Every day.

Our Core Values

Exceptional - We recruit and retain phenomenal people who consistently go the extra mile to deliver results that lead the industry.

Hospitality - We are tirelessly committed to providing the highest quality food, beverages, and service by anticipating our guests'' needs so they can count on memorable experiences every time.

Collaboration - We prioritize working together with a shared vision and effective & transparent communication, we unite as one team to achieve remarkable experiences.

Responsibility - we hold ourselves accountable to be there for our team and clients, to deliver what we say we will, when we say we will and check in on progress along the way.

Innovation - We are forward-thinkers always looking for new processes, technologies, and techniques to increase efficiencies and scalability to improve our services.

The Experience You'll Create:

The Associate Buyer supports the Procurement team with day-to-day administrative activities and purchasing responsibilities. This role is responsible for maintaining procurement systems, managing vendor onboarding, and executing equipment purchases to ensure smooth and efficient operations across the organization.

Procurement Administration

• Monitor and manage the Procurement mailbox, ensuring timely responses and follow-ups
• Maintain and update the preferred vendor list
• Manage and maintain user access for procurement and supplier portals
• Support vendor onboarding, including collection and processing of all required documentation

Systems & Training

• Support the implementation and maintenance of purchase order (PO) software
• Provide training and onboarding support for new users of procurement systems
• Troubleshoot basic system issues and escalate when necessary

Purchasing & Buying Support

• Execute purchasing activities for equipment, primarily supporting office coffee and market divisions
• Handle the full purchasing lifecycle from quote collection through order placement and delivery tracking
• Ensure timely and accurate processing of purchase orders

Project Support

• Assist with procurement-related projects and continuous improvement initiatives
• Provide general administrative and operational support to the Procurement team

Ingredients for Thriving:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 1-3 years of experience in procurement, purchasing, or administrative support preferred
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent communication and customer service skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Excel)
• Experience with procurement or PO systems is a plus

Key Competencies

• Detail-oriented and highly organized
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Collaborative team player with a proactive mindset

Savor the Benefits:

We offer a range of benefits for eligibles team members, including:

• Health Coverage - Medical, Dental and Vision
• Voluntary Life/AD&D, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Critical Illness
• 401(k)
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Wellness Programs
• Additional Perks

To see a summary of current benefits, please visit https://www.continentalserves.com/work-at-continental/#benefits.