Juice Supply Coordinator | Beverage Supply Chain & Logistics

🎯 Role Definition

As our Juice Supply Coordinator, you will be the central hub for our entire juice supply operation. You are responsible for ensuring a consistent, high-quality, and cost-effective supply of juice concentrates, purees, and other essential raw materials. This role requires meticulous planning, expert coordination, and clear communication to bridge the gap between our global suppliers, logistics partners, and internal production teams. You will manage inventory levels, track shipments across the globe, and proactively solve challenges within the cold chain to guarantee that our production lines never run dry and our products meet the highest standards of quality.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Logistics Coordinator or Assistant
Procurement Assistant or Junior Buyer
Production Planner

Advancement To:

Supply Chain Manager
Procurement Manager
Senior Supply Chain Planner

Lateral Moves:

Demand Planner
Operations Analyst
Quality Assurance Specialist (Supply Chain)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Manage the complete purchase order lifecycle for all juice and raw material ingredients, from initial creation and supplier confirmation to final delivery and system receipt.
Develop and maintain accurate demand forecasts by analyzing sales data, production schedules, and market trends to ensure optimal inventory levels and minimize stockouts or excess product.
Coordinate all domestic and international logistics for inbound materials, including selecting carriers, negotiating freight rates, and managing customs clearance for timely arrivals.
Act as the primary point of contact for our network of juice suppliers and growers, building strong relationships and conducting regular performance reviews to ensure compliance and reliability.
Meticulously track and monitor all in-transit shipments, providing real-time updates to internal stakeholders and proactively addressing any potential delays or disruptions.
Uphold strict adherence to cold chain logistics protocols to maintain the quality and integrity of perishable and temperature-sensitive ingredients from origin to our facility.
Collaborate closely with the Quality Assurance team to manage ingredient specifications, address any non-conformance issues, and ensure all incoming materials meet our rigorous food safety standards.
Maintain precise inventory records within our ERP system, conducting regular cycle counts and reconciling discrepancies to ensure data accuracy for planning and financial reporting.
Prepare and analyze key supply chain performance indicators (KPIs), such as on-time in-full (OTIF) delivery, inventory turn rates, and total landed cost, presenting findings to management.
Resolve any shipment-related issues, including damages, shortages, or incorrect deliveries, by filing claims with carriers and coordinating returns or replacements with suppliers.
Manage and maintain all necessary shipping and import/export documentation, ensuring full compliance with international trade regulations and food safety laws.
Partner with the production planning team to align inbound delivery schedules with manufacturing needs, optimizing warehouse space and ensuring a smooth flow of materials.
Identify and evaluate potential new suppliers to diversify our sourcing base, reduce risk, and drive cost-saving initiatives without compromising quality.
Support the procurement team in negotiating pricing, payment terms, and supply agreements with new and existing vendors to secure the most favorable terms.
Drive continuous improvement projects within the supply chain, identifying inefficiencies and implementing new processes or technologies to enhance performance and reduce costs.
Reconcile supplier invoices against purchase orders and receiving documents to ensure accuracy and assist the finance department with timely payment processing.
Monitor commodity markets for juice and fruit products to anticipate price fluctuations and inform purchasing strategies.
Generate and distribute regular reports on inventory status, supplier performance, and potential supply chain risks to senior leadership.
Coordinate the disposition of slow-moving or obsolete inventory (SLOB) to minimize waste and financial loss.
Participate actively in Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) meetings, providing critical input on supply availability and constraints.

Secondary Functions

Assist in the development and documentation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all supply chain and procurement functions.
Support the onboarding process for new vendors, ensuring they are properly set up in our systems and fully understand our quality and delivery requirements.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

ERP System Proficiency: Hands-on experience with Enterprise Resource Planning systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365) for procurement, inventory, and order management.
Advanced Excel Skills: Mastery of Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/HLOOKUP, index/match, conditional formatting, and forecasting functions for data analysis and reporting.
Supply Chain Fundamentals: Deep understanding of core supply chain principles, including demand planning, inventory control methods (e.g., FIFO, LIFO, JIT), and logistics management.
Procurement & PO Management: Demonstrable experience in creating and managing purchase orders, tracking supplier performance, and understanding the procure-to-pay process.
Cold Chain Logistics: Knowledge of temperature-controlled transportation and storage requirements for perishable goods, particularly within the food and beverage sector.
Data Analysis: Ability to analyze large datasets to identify trends, measure performance against KPIs, and support data-driven decision-making.
Knowledge of Food Safety Standards: Familiarity with industry regulations and quality standards such as HACCP, SQF, and GMPs is highly desirable.

Soft Skills

Exceptional Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for clear and effective correspondence with global suppliers, freight forwarders, and internal departments.
Meticulous Attention to Detail: A keen eye for accuracy is essential for managing complex orders, verifying documentation, and maintaining precise inventory records.
Strong Problem-Solving: Proven ability to identify, analyze, and swiftly resolve supply chain disruptions, logistical hurdles, and supplier issues.
Superior Organization & Time Management: Ability to prioritize multiple critical tasks, manage deadlines, and thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Vendor Relationship Management: Strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain positive, productive relationships with a diverse network of suppliers.
Negotiation Skills: Confidence and ability to engage in negotiations with carriers and suppliers to achieve favorable outcomes on pricing and terms.
Proactive & Self-Motivated: A "can-do" attitude with the initiative to anticipate needs, mitigate risks, and continuously seek out process improvements.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university or college.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's Degree with a concentration in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, or Business Administration.
Professional certifications such as APICS (CPIM, CSCP) are highly regarded.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Supply Chain Management
Business Administration
Logistics & Transportation
Operations Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2-5 years of direct experience in a supply chain, logistics, or procurement role.

Preferred:

Previous experience in the food & beverage, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or agriculture industries is strongly preferred.
Experience managing international freight and customs documentation is a significant asset.