Purchasing Specialist

Dole Packaged Foods•Atwater, CA

1d•$24 - $27•Onsite

About The Position

Overview Purpose: Dole Packaged Foods is a purpose led organization that is a champion of accessible fruit nutrition and builds a brighter future for people through the goodness of fruit. At Dole, our culture is uniquely driven by core Values. Our commitment to these Values transforms our work into a meaningful journey toward a brighter future together. Here, you'll be part of a respectful, inclusive culture that deeply values our colleagues, customers, and global communities. We strive for excellence, empowering each other to confidently overcome challenges, continuously learn, and achieve world-class results. Guided by unwavering integrity, our actions consistently reflect our commitment to always doing what's right, fostering lasting trust and strong relationships. Through a spirit of collaboration, we cultivate positivity, generosity, and genuine teamwork, enabling collective success toward our One Dole Purpose. Our innovative spirit leads directly to meaningful outcomes and business success. The purchasing specialist will take direction from the purchasing manager and will work along with other members of the department. This role requires an energetic, detail-oriented and team player professional who can take direction and work expediently to assure accuracy of all transactions.

Requirements

Prior experience in an administrative, purchasing, or supply chain role preferred.
Strong organizational, time management, and follow-through skills.
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively in a team environment.
Clear and professional written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office; working knowledge of SAP preferred.
Demonstrated attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
Willingness to work additional hours as business needs require.
Commitment to upholding all company policies, ethical standards, and compliance requirements.
Passionate about a purpose driven career
Passionate about collaborating respectfully in diverse and inclusive team environments
Proactively seeks feedback and continuously improves work quality
Consistently adheres to ethical standards and maintains transparency
Actively contributes to achieving collective team goals
Ability to sit and use a computer for extended periods of time, ability to answer phones and utilize a variety of office equipment
Must be able to climb stairs
Must be able to lift 25 pounds
Requires climbing, standing, stooping, twisting, lifting and other physical movements to perform job

Responsibilities

End-to-End Purchasing Execution Receive and process purchase requisitions (PRs) from internal departments.
Prepare and place purchase orders (POs) in SAP in alignment with approved pricing, lead times, and operational requirements.
Obtain and review vendor order confirmations to ensure materials and services are scheduled as requested.
Monitor order status end-to-end (confirmation, shipment, delivery, receiving, goods receipt, and invoice processing).
Proactively expedite orders and communicate risks or delays to Planning, Operations, QA, and Accounts Payable as needed.
Receiving, Documentation & Invoice Resolution Request, review, and verify shipping documentation (BOLs, packing slips, COAs, lab results, and other required documents).
Ensure timely and accurate goods receipt (GR) postings in SAP in coordination with receiving teams.
Resolve invoice discrepancies and provide appropriate accounting instructions for price, quantity, or tax, and other variances.
Support Accounts Payable to ensure accurate and timely invoice processing.
Rejected Materials & Credit Recovery Coordinate documentation for rejected or non-conforming materials (photos, COAs, packing slips, inspection results, etc.).
Initiate return orders, debit memos, or credit requests as applicable.
Drive credit recovery follow-up with vendors until resolution and closure.
Vendor & Material Setup Support Initiate and track new vendors and new material setup requests until completion.
Support with collecting and routing required supplier documentation in partnership with QA and other stakeholders per established approval workflows and SOPs.
Cross-Functional Coordination Partner daily with Planning, Operations, QA, Maintenance, and Accounts Payable to support production continuity and service levels.
Communicate clearly and proactively to prevent material shortages, resolve discrepancies, and minimize operational disruptions.
Documentation Control & Audit Readiness Maintain accurate and organized purchasing records in SAP and approved document repositories (e.g., ShareFile), including confirmations, packing slips, rejection packets, and invoice back-up.
Execute all work in compliance with department SOPs, SOX controls, and internal or third-party audit requirements.
Review open purchase orders regularly to ensure timely receipt, closure, or cancellation.
Operational Tracking & Continuous Improvement Support Maintain purchasing trackers (open PO status, confirmation timeliness, invoice issue logs) and provide clean, accurate inputs for KPI reporting.
Participate in Procurement Operations standard work updates, including SOPs, templates, and tracker improvements.
Support the Purchasing Manager with operational or administrative tasks as assigned.