Graduate As Junior Buyer

**Company**

IRCA is a leading international provider of semi-finished ingredients for the bakery, pastry, and gelato markets, serving independent producers as well as large food manufacturers (e.g., CPG). Core products include chocolate, chocolate decorations, creams, pastry mixes, gelato ingredients, and other bakery / pastry ingredients. The Company, headquartered in Italy, was acquired by Advent International, the global Private Equity firm, in July 2022, and has a strong track record of growth over the last decade. IRCA has made 2 bolt-on acquisitions in the areas of candied fruits (Cesarin) and pistachio ingredients (Anastasi) in 2022, and recently acquired a leading manufacturer of sweet and cereal products in Europe and the US. The target’s business focuses on high value add specialty ingredients for the Food Manufacturers segment, with a portfolio that incorporates a range of products including sweet particulates, chocolate confections, baked inclusions, variegates and fruit purées. This transformative deal created a global leader in the semi-finished ingredients industry, with 22 manufacturing facilities in Europe, United States of America, and Vietnam with a combined €1 billion of revenues (2022)

**Purpose of Position**:
The aim is to guarantee the constant and aware management of purchasing activities mainly of raw materials and packaging.

Ensure strategic purchase actions in collaboration with:
Supply Chain and operations in the manufacturing sites

R&D and Quality: compliance, verification, and evaluation of new opportunities/suppliers

Pricing and sales

Manager: ensuring continuity in the global vision of the company's purchases.

**Description of main Activities /responsibilities**:

- Autonomous management of the assigned product portfolio, in terms of:

- Market and supplier analysis: Monitoring of the trends of the main reference markets for the assigned portfolio
- Direct and constant contact with suppliers
- Definition of the economic and supply conditions (MOQ, Timing)
- budgeting: define budget and constant analysis and verification of budget alignment.
- Reporting activities
- Scouting of new supply possibilities for the assigned portfolio and subsequent proposal to QA/R&D and Operations for a qualitative and feasibility assessment.
- Supporting on specific projects

**Education**:

- Degree, preferrable in Food Technologies or similar.
- As alternative, economics or sales

**Professional Skills**:

- Negotiation
- Ability to analyze.
- Knowledge of market logic in the food sector and, in particular, of purchased materials and ability to anticipate scenarios.

**Experiences**:

- Previous experience of at least 1 year in carrying out the task of buyer within food B2B and B2C industries, producers or distributors, including ingredients.

**Language Skills**:

- Proficient English (spoken and written).
- Preferrable second language knowledge (German/Italian)

**Computer Skills**:

- MS Office

**Behavioural requirements**:

- Communicates effectively and has written and verbal communication skills.
- Able to work in international contexts.
- Multi-tasking, organizational and time management expertise.
- Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to be successful in a changing environment.
- Problem solving
- Result oriented.
- Willingness to contribute in terms of support and innovation in compliance with existing business logic.