Maintenance Buyer

At Link Snacks, we show up hungry, roll up our sleeves, plaid or otherwise, and dive straight into the hard work. We don’t hide from challenges; we hunt them down. We push harder, move faster, and take the kinds of big swings that built this business in the North Woods of Wisconsin four decades ago.

We’re everyday people who deliver extraordinary results. Innovation, creativity, and urgency aren’t buzzwords, they’re expectations. And just like the real protein snacks we make across our global house of brands—Jack Link’s®, Lorissa’s Kitchen®, Golden Island®, BiFi®, and Peperami® and KOOEE!® to name a few—there’s nothing artificial about us. What you see is exactly what you get: humble, gritty, passionate people who show up every day ready to not just be a participate in the meat snack industry that the Link Family created, but to move faster, innovate harder and keep raising the bar so high, the rest of the world needs a ladder just to see it.

Dominating this space across the world takes a team. A team that runs together, succeeds together, and celebrates together. A team that’s full of relentless energy and spirit that can only be fueled by one thing: a fist full of our delicious meat snacks.

Real Meat Protein. Real People. Real Results. THAT is Link Snacks.

The Maintenance Buyer is responsible for the strategic procurement and management of Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) materials supporting a highly automated USDA-regulated beef stick manufacturing facility. This role manages a multi-million-dollar annual R&M budget and ensures uninterrupted plant operations by maintaining optimal inventory levels, supplier performance, and cost control across critical spare parts, consumables, and services.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management

• Develop category strategies for high-spend MRO segments (e.g., automation components, OEM parts, electrical, controls, packaging systems).
• Balance OEM vs. aftermarket sourcing to optimize cost without increasing downtime risk.
• Build redundancy in critical supply chains (dual sourcing for high-risk/long-lead items).
• Establish and manage supplier scorecards:• On-Time-In-Full (OTIF)
• Lead time adherence
• Quality/reject rates
• Responsiveness during downtime events

• Negotiate long-term agreements (LTAs), blanket POs, and consignment programs to reduce working capital and expedite availability.
• Manage vendor escalation during line-down events (expedited freight, priority production, aftermarket solutions).

Critical Spare Parts Strategy & Inventory Optimization

• Lead criticality analysis with Maintenance & Reliability:• Identify “zero-fail” components (PLC cards, drives, robotics, proprietary OEM parts).
• Define stocking strategy: on-site, regional, vendor-managed, or non-stock.

• Set and continuously refine:• Min/Max levels
• Safety stock based on failure rates and lead times
• Reorder points tied to usage patterns and predictive maintenance insights

• Eliminate obsolete and duplicate SKUs while standardizing parts across lines where possible.
• Implement kitting strategies for:• Preventive Maintenance (PMs)
• Planned shutdowns

• Improve inventory accuracy and cycle counting discipline (≥98% target in high-performing plants).

Maintenance & Reliability Integration

• Act as embedded partner to Maintenance, Reliability Engineers, and Planners:• Align procurement with weekly/daily maintenance schedules
• Pre-stage parts for planned work vs. reactive purchasing

• Support predictive and condition-based maintenance programs:• Ensure availability of failure-prone components before predicted end-of-life

• Participate in root cause failure analysis (RCFA):• Identify recurring part failures and sourcing alternatives
• Recommend higher reliability or upgraded components

• Coordinate materials for shutdowns, capital installs, and line expansions:• Sequencing deliveries to match project timelines
• Preventing overbuying or last-minute shortages

Budget Ownership & Cost Management

• Directly manage MRO procurement tied to a multi-million-dollar R&M budget with clear accountability for:• Cost containment
• Spend visibility
• Savings delivery

• Identify and execute cost levers:• Vendor consolidation
• Specification standardization
• Cross-plant leverage (if applicable)
• Repair vs. replace analysis
• Use of local/regional suppliers vs. OEM pricing

• Track and report:• Monthly spend vs. budget
• PPV (Purchase Price Variance)
• Cost avoidance vs. realized savings

• Challenge emergencies and spot buys that drive price premiums and freight costs.

High-Uptime / Rapid Response Procurement

• Operate with urgency in a 24/7, high-speed automated facility where downtime costs are significant:• Rapid sourcing and logistics coordination for critical breakdown events
• Identify nearest available inventory (distributors, sister plants, brokers)

• Maintain “ready-now” sourcing playbooks for:• Motors, drives, sensors, PLC components
• Robotics and high-value automation parts

• Coordinate expedited shipping, hot-shot delivery, and vendor field service when needed.
• Maintain after-hours supplier contact lists and escalation protocols.

Systems, Data & Process Discipline

• Own integrity of MRO data in ERP/CMMS:• Accurate part numbers, descriptions, BOM alignment
• Supplier records and pricing updates

• Leverage system tools for:• Spend analytics
• Demand forecasting
• Inventory optimization modeling

• Improve purchasing workflows:• Reduce PR-to-PO cycle time
• Increase automation (blanket orders, catalogs)

• Drive standard work for:• Requisitions
• Emergency purchases
• Vendor onboarding

Compliance, Food Safety & Risk Management

• Ensure all purchased materials meet:• USDA and FDA requirements
• Food-grade/sanitary design standards where applicable

• Validate suppliers against:• Food safety and quality expectations
• Documentation requirements (COAs, traceability)

• Support audit readiness (USDA, SQF, BRC):• Maintain organized procurement records
• Ensure traceability on critical materials

• Manage risk related to:• Supply disruptions
• Counterfeit or non-spec parts
• Non-compliant materials entering the facility

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Lead or support initiatives that improve:• Equipment uptime through parts availability
• Inventory turns and working capital efficiency

• Identify automation or digital enhancements:• VMI (Vendor Managed Inventory)
• Barcode/RFID tracking
• Predictive inventory linked to IIoT data

• Benchmark against industry best practices in MRO procurement.
• Drive cross-functional alignment between Procurement, Maintenance, Engineering, and Finance.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Communication

• Serve as the single point of contact for all MRO procurement activities within the plant.
• Translate operational needs (maintenance urgency) into procurement actions and priorities.
• Communicate trade-offs clearly:• Cost vs. uptime risk
• Lead time vs. stocking cost

• Influence without authority across Maintenance, Operations, and Finance.

What “Great” Looks Like in This Role

• Zero production downtime attributable to parts unavailability
• Proactive (not reactive) material readiness for maintenance work
• Measurable cost savings year-over-year without increasing risk
• Lean, accurate storeroom with high service levels
• Strong supplier partnerships that respond immediately in crises

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years of MRO purchasing experience in manufacturing (food, beverage, or CPG strongly preferred).
• Experience managing large-scale R&M budgets ($5M+ preferred).
• Strong knowledge of industrial components (motors, conveyors, PLCs, pneumatics, robotics, packaging equipment).
• Proficiency in ERP/CMMS systems and Microsoft Excel (advanced level).

Preferred

• Experience in USDA-regulated or food manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with automation systems (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, robotics systems).
• CPIM, CPM, CPSM, or similar certification.

Key Competencies

• Strategic sourcing & negotiation
• Inventory optimization in high-uptime environments
• Cross-functional collaboration (Maintenance, Engineering, Operations)
• Analytical & financial acumen
• Sense of urgency and operational prioritization
• Vendor performance management

Success Metrics

• Reduction in equipment downtime due to parts availability
• Inventory turns and working capital optimization
• Achievement of annual cost savings targets
• Supplier OTIF and lead time performance
• Audit compliance and documentation accuracy

The pay range for this role is $67k - $73k (Annual). Actual wage will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Jack Link’s Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Jack Link’s provides a variety of benefits to eligible Team Members, including medical, dental and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, 401k participation, paid holidays, and paid time off.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team Member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the Team Member will be required to wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (i.e. beard/hairnet, ear plugs, frock, boots, etc.), stand for extended periods of time, and use hands/arms to push, pull, reach and occasionally lift above head.  The Team Member must occasionally lift, push, pull up to 25 pounds and 50 pounds infrequently. Team Members are requested to visually inspect equipment and/or product. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Team Member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant setting with wet/slippery floors, varying degrees of temperatures with an average temperature of 40 degrees in the production area.  Team Members will be exposed to raw and/or cooked meat products and moving equipment and will be required to follow all Food Safety Quality requirements.

EEO Statement:

Jack Link’s provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic that is protected by federal, state or local law.

Jack Link’s is participant in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For information about the E-Verify program, please visit:  http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employees

Disclaimer:

This job description is intended to generally describe the nature and level of work to be performed by team members in this position. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and skills required of team members performing this role.