Ingredient Buyer

Ingredient Buyer

We're Tovala, a food-tech company reinventing home cooking to save consumers time. Through an innovative combination of hardware, software, and fresh food delivery, we make it incredibly simple for anyone to prepare and enjoy delicious, home-cooked meals without sacrificing time to do whatever matters to them. Through our superior technology, product experience and food quality, we have separated Tovala from the busy pack of other meal delivery businesses. In the process, we've amassed a loyal, rapidly growing following and our retention, product engagement and customer NPS are all best-in-class. We've raised over $100mm from great investors like Left Lane Capital, Origin Ventures, Y Combinator and Comcast Ventures and have invested strongly in building a unique culture that fosters growth, personal development and camaraderie.

At Tovala, we're seeking an Ingredient Buyer. Food procurement is a fundamental component of Tovala's business model. Buyers are responsible for ensuring that we receive all raw ingredients and co-manufactured items in a timely manner so that production runs smoothly each week. This individual will work directly within the Purchasing & Procurement team, and cross functionally with Production, Inventory, FSQA, Culinary, and Menu teams to review inventory, purchase strategically, and coordinate on time and in full deliveries.

How You'll Spend Your Time At Tovala

• Review on-hand inventory and production requirements to manage daily and weekly purchasing needs, for a range of lead times and shelf lives
• Communicate shortages or delays in product arrival that would affect the production schedule
• Strategize the recovery plan with the Operations team to expedite or fill-in elsewhere with minimal impact to production
• Provide forecasts to vendors to stay ahead to stay ahead of any potential shortages, identify challenges and provide solutions to mitigate interruptions in product acquisition. Work with the Director of Procurement and Senior Buyer(s) to secure secondary or even tertiary suppliers for high risk, essential ingredients
• Review demand requirements to manage short and long term purchasing needs, working with the Inventory and Menu teams to avoid wastage and identify opportunities for process improvements
• Implement and maintain a vendor performance rating system - monitor and evaluate vendor performance using key attributes (on-time / complete delivery, adherence to specifications, etc)
• Real time communication of quality issues to vendors, ensuring timely follow up and solutions
• Develop and maintain excellent partnerships and relationships with internal and external stakeholders, working with the Procurement Director to identify and develop processes for efficiency and value improvements
• Partner with our Finance and Inventory teams to review and approve invoices, and ensure food costs are accurately captured
• Integrate within the Tovala Supply Chain team and provide support and coverage to both food and packaging within the Procurement team. Follow Safety / GMP / Food Safety / Quality policies

About You

Requirements

Compensation / Benefits

The values we hold dear

Put the team first

We put what is best for the broader team ahead of what is best for ourselves or our immediate department.

Get s#!t done (well)

We celebrate people at all levels for delivering high impact work that expands the bounds of what we're able to do.

Connect the dots

We engage with curiosity to learn how our work impacts others so that we can problem-solve holistically and work collaboratively.

Be Direct

We share our perspective openly and directly, even when it feels difficult to do so.

Embrace the obstacles

We rise to meet challenges with a sense of urgency, resolve, and optimism.

Champion the customer

We consider and prioritize our customer in all of our decisions

At Tovala we're committed to building a workplace that represents a variety of backgrounds, skills, and perspectives and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Everyone is welcome here!