Field Supply Chain Specialist

Job Description:

CANDIDATES MUST LIVE IN ILLINOIS

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The Field Supply Chain Specialist operates with a high level of independence, applying critical thinking and sound judgement to manage and support end-to-end supply chain execution across Portillo’s restaurants.  This role serves as a critical link between Portillo’s restaurant teams, distribution partners, and the internal Supply Chain team, ensuring timely and accurate product delivery to the restaurants while applying critical thinking and problem solving to anticipate, prevent and resolve operational issues impacting product delivery to restaurants.  This role requires the ability to make decisions that impact operational outcomes and drive effective supply chain execution.

This position is responsible for maintaining operational systems and data that enable supply chain execution, resolving supply chain issues, and providing proactive inventory management.  The Specialist independently assesses issues, prioritizes competing demands, and makes informed decisions to support distribution and product-related concerns while ensuring the accuracy and integrity of supply chain data.

The Specialist serves as a primary point of contact for restaurant operators, distribution partners, and suppliers providing support on distribution and product concerns, troubleshooting inventory system issues and ensuring data accuracy. This role also contributes to new restaurant openings, maintains order guides and system data, and supports reporting and food cost control initiatives.

Th Specialist is expected to work the hours necessary to complete the responsibilities of the position, with core business hours consisting of Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  For the Saturday coverage, the Specialist is expected to remain accessible via computer to oversee and respond to restaurant operational requests specific to product orders and/or deliveries. 

This role follows a hybrid schedule based at the Portillo’s Restaurant Support Center in Oak Brook, Illinois with on-site presence required Tuesday through Thursday.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Enable our Purpose to create lifelong memories by igniting the senses with unrivaled food and experiences:

Family:  Work together to make everyone feel at home, and we step up when someone needs help

• Act as the primary liaison, independently managing relationships and exercising discretion in day-to-day support to restaurant operators, overseeing day-to-day distribution, inventory and supply chain support to ensure operational continuity
• Build strong working relationships with restaurant teams, distribution partners, and suppliers to support alignment and timely issue resolution
• Partner with Supply Chain and Distribution team members to identify, advance and support operational priorities and restaurant needs
• Coordinate with distribution partners to minimize and address product availability issues, delivery disruptions and product quality concerns

Greatness:  We’re obsessed with being the best and work hard to continuously improve.  Our greatness is rooted in Quality, Service, Attitude and Cleanliness

• Manage and maintain electronic order guides and related item master data within Supply Chain systems
• Serve as subject matter expert for the inventory management system, including forecasting, data validation, suggestive ordering, recipe depletion and troubleshooting
• Provide system support to ensure accurate food cost reporting and timely invoice processing
• Build, generate, analyze and maintain reports to inform decision-making and recommend improvements with  inventory accuracy, product quality and restaurant performance
• Monitor Supply Chain performance metrics and evaluate trends to inform operational decisions such as inventory accuracy, product availability and order fulfillment to help support restaurant operators
• Investigate inventory discrepancies and determine root cause using critical thinking and independent judgement and collaborate with restaurant operators, distributors and suppliers as applicable to resolve issues
• Validate vendor statements and support Accounts Payable systems imports
• Own the management and resolution of product quality complaints received through the QuickBase reporting platform
• Lead the recordkeeping function for system processes, including maintaining documentation of item setup workflows and recipe management

Energy:  We move with urgency and passion, while maintaining attention to detail

• Manage inventory system set up for new restaurant openings, including sales imports, vendor assignment and order guide creation
• Actively monitor inbound requests from the restaurant operators, team members, suppliers, distributors and internal teams (via calls, emails, QuickBase), apply judgment to determine requests requiring escalation and subject matter expertise and critical thinking to resolve issues in a timely manner
• Support supply chain execution for new menu items, limited time offers and product transitions by executing system updates and distribution readiness
• Lead non-routine distribution coordination to support holidays and special events
• Respond quickly to time-sensitive operational issues while prioritizing and exercising judgement across competing demands

Fun:  We entertain our guests, we connect authentically, and we make each other smile

• Lead inventory management system training course for new restaurant team orientations
• Identify and recommend opportunities to improve reporting, data accuracy, and supply chain processes and share recommendations with the Supply Chain team
• Other duties as assigned

ORGANIZATION RELATIONSHIPS

The Field Supply Chain Supervisor collaborates cross-functionally with restaurant operators, field leaders, Distribution partners, Suppliers, IT and Accounts Payable teams to administer day-to-day supply chain operations. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Educational Level/Certifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in business or related field preferred

Minimum Work Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• 1-3 years’ experience in Supply Chain, Operations, Customer Service or related field
• Proficiency in MS Office; NBO/NCR/Crunch Time experience a plus
• Ability to exercise independent judgement and make prudent business decisions with limited direction
• Strong communication and customer service skills
• Analytical mindset with strong organizational and decision-making skills
• Ability to problem solve, think strategically and execute tactically
• Resilient, adaptable, detail oriented and eager to learn
• Experience in customer service, supply chain, inventory management or multi-unit restaurant operations preferred

Travel Requirement

• Minimal travel required, <1%

Hot dog! The pay range for this role is $58,000 – $72,000. Your actual compensation will depend on experience, location, and/or additional skills you bring to the table.  

This position is also served with: 

• Participation in a discretionary bonus program based on company and individual performance, among other ingredients 

• A monthly technology reimbursement 

• Quarterly Portillo’s gift cards 

• A bun-believable benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance along with paid time off, life insurance, and our 401(k) plan with a company match 

• Learn more about our benefits here 

DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by incumbents assigned to this job.  This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the responsibilities, duties and skills required.  The incumbent may be expected to perform other duties as assigned. This job may be reviewed as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity.