Packaging Procurement Specialist

Company Overview

Ancient Crunch Inc. is the fastest-growing healthy snack brand in the U.S. Our flagship product, MASA Chips, is the #1 selling tallow-fried tortilla chips in premium retailers like Erewhon. We manufacture all MASA products in-house at our Hackettstown facility using real ingredients-no seed oils, artificial flavors, or preservatives. All operations adhere to strict Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and food safety standards.

Reports To: Vendor Relations Manager

Direct Reports: None anticipated at the start, though direct reports may be added or removed from time to time based on operational needs.

Location: Onsite at company HQ, Hackettstown NJ

Schedule: Monday - Friday; Some flexibility later or earlier may be needed at times

Position Summary

We are seeking a full-time Packaging Procurement Manager to join our team. The Packaging Procurement Manager will be responsible for managing the sourcing, sizing, purchasing, and delivery of packaging materials used in our production process (with an emphasis on flexible packaging), ensuring timely and cost-effective procurement.

The responsibilities listed below are not exhaustive. As Ancient Crunch scales, the requirements of this position will expand and adapt. The Packaging Procurement Specialist is expected to lead new initiatives and assume additional duties consistent with this title and the long-term evolution of our procurement and operations strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Your Responsibilities

Specifically, you will do…

• Material Planning and Inventory Coordination
  • Goal: Ensure sufficient materials are available as needed, without significant overstocking.
  • Action: Use sales projections and historical SKU mix to model out material needs by SKU. Translate production targets into material requirements (e.g., X bags of Y chip = Z pouches, etc.). Build in ordering buffer based on lead times of different vendors. Maintain a live model that adjusts as forecasts change and communicate needs to vendors proactively.
• Vendor Management and Onboarding:
  • Goal: Secure reliable and efficient suppliers for all necessary materials.
  • Action: Vet, negotiate, and onboard new suppliers of packaging materials. Maintain strong, positive relationships with both new and existing suppliers, ensuring that all communication is clear, friendly, and productive. Maintain redundancy in our suppliers in case one should have issues.
• Material Ordering and Timely Deliveries:
  • Goal: Ensure material orders are received with sufficient time to prevent delays in production.
  • Action: Place orders based on production needs and ensure materials are received by the required deadlines. Monitor and manage lead times, and follow up frequently to ensure timely delivery. Handle any delays or issues with suppliers promptly and professionally.
• Cost Management:
  • Goal: Get the best value for materials purchased.
  • Action: Negotiate pricing and purchase terms with suppliers where applicable. Regularly review supplier contracts and seek opportunities to reduce costs without compromising quality.
• Inventory Management:
  • Goal: Keep production well-stocked without excess inventory.
  • Action: Act as a backup to the production team, ensuring that materials are replenished in a timely manner to prevent shortages. Coordinate with the warehouse team to ensure proper material tracking and storage.
• Quality Control and Problem Resolution:
  • Goal: Ensure received materials meet our quality standards, and resolve issues quickly if they don’t.
  • Action: Inspect materials upon delivery to ensure they meet the required specifications. Address any quality issues directly with the suppliers to resolve them efficiently.
• Delivery Coordination:
  • Goal: Ensure smooth and efficient inbound shipments.
  • Action: Work with logistics partners to organize freight and coordinate deliveries. Ensure clear communication between suppliers and freight carriers to guarantee timely and accurate shipments.
• Record Keeping:
  • Goal: Maintain accurate records for all procurement activities.
  • Action: Log all purchase orders, deliveries, and invoices. Work with the accounting team to ensure accurate and timely payment of invoices.
• Packaging Spec and Artwork Maintenance
  • Goal: Keep all our specs and artwork organized
  • Action: Maintain database of artwork and proofs, keep them up to date, communicate artwork files to vendors, maintain records of ordered bags in conformance with the designs. Maintain updated list of sizing and material requirements for all flexible packaging.
• Designer and Brand Coordination
  • Goal: Ensure artwork is updated as needed
  • Action: Coordinate with brand/product teams to determine artwork updates, communicate updates to designers, get approvals and feedback. Approve proofs, make sure colors are correct, etc.

Materials under your control:

• Main focus:
  • Primary packaging materials (pouches, bags, etc.)
• Secondary focus:
  • Shipping materials (boxes, etc.)

Future Growth

• Opportunity to manage a growing procurement team as the company expands.
• Potential to take on greater responsibility in finance and accounts payable.

Required Skills & Competencies

• 4+ years of experience in procurement/vendor management/purchasing of flexible packaging for a CPG manufacturing company, or account management/back office/operations for packaging supplier company.
  • Regardless, experience with graphic-designed packaging (pouches, bags, printed boxes) is a must.
• Ability to reliably commute to our factory in Hackettstown, NJ
• Strong analytical and modeling skills. Can take mathematical assumptions and produce compelling projections based on them. Requires decent proficiency in excel and arithmetic
• Familiarity or better with graphic design tools and knowledge is a requirement: Pantone, Adobe Illustrator, etc.
• Strong communication skills: both verbal and written.
• Excellent organizational skills with a keen eye for detail.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously.
• Tech-savvy with experience in:
  • Google Drive
  • Excel/Google Sheets
  • MRP/ERP software
• A personal passion for health, wellness, fitness, or food is a plus.

Physical Requirements (Onsite)

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods
• Ability to lift, push, pull, and carry materials throughout the shift
• Ability to use stairs and ladders throughout the shift
• Ability to work in hot, humid, wet, and industrial production environments
• Ability to wear required PPE, including respirators, gloves, hearing protection, face shields, and protective clothing

Qualifications

• Authorized to work in the U.S. and able to commute to Hackettstown, NJ
• Good memory, follow-up skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Interest in product quality, manufacturing, or food/science environments a plus
• Bachelor’s degree preferred

What We Offer

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• A health and wellness-focused culture
• All the chips you can eat!

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) & Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) & E-Verify Statement

Ancient Crunch Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

All employment decisions at Ancient Crunch Inc.-including hiring, promotion, discipline, or discharge-are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.

In accordance with the ADA, we provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the job, unless doing so creates an undue hardship for the company. Applicants requiring accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the HR Department.

We participate in E-Verify. As part of our hiring process, we electronically confirm the employment eligibility of new hires through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration. E-Verify is only used after a candidate has accepted a job offer, it is never used to pre-screen applicants.