Purchasing Manager - San Diego, CA, USA

Company Description · Fairmont Hotels & Resorts · Join a dynamic team and be part of a network of 90 spectacular properties, and 34 more in the pipeline, in 30 countries around the globe. Our properties are located from the beaches of Hawaii to the unspoiled national parks of Can ...

Job description

Company Description

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Join a dynamic team and be part of a network of 90 spectacular properties, and 34 more in the pipeline, in 30 countries around the globe. Our properties are located from the beaches of Hawaii to the unspoiled national parks of Canada, to the heart of London, to the deserts of the United Arab Emirates.

About Fairmont Grand Del Mar

Breathe deeply, dream wildly, and discover a soulful sanctuary where finding yourself comes naturally. Magic sits around every corner and within every conversation. It enchants through the charm of Los Peñasquitos Canyon and the sunshine of San Diego. It's where classic meets cool, the fine unwinds into fun and inspiration leads to immersion. 

Bask in the San Diego sunshine and enjoy our five-star setting at Fairmont Grand Del Mar. Immersed in nature, the resort hosts 249 elegantly appointed guestrooms and suites, an 18-hole private Tom Fazio-designed golf course, a five-star spa and offers two dozen weekly outdoor activities across the 400 acres of dramatic canyon scenery including yoga, meditation and archery. The Grand includes six different dining venues, including San Diego's only three-Michelin starred restaurant, Addison.  

Growth and advancement are not only accessible but actively encouraged. We promote a balanced life for our colleagues and continually seek new ways to enhance our environment and support our beautiful home of San Diego. 

About the Application Process:

At Fairmont, we want to bring out your highest potential. Shortly after applying, you will receive an email from our partner AssessFirst prompting you to create a profile and complete a questionnaire. This is a mandatory step for your candidacy to be considered as it enables us to explore your compatibility with this role and our culture of luxury excellence.

As a senior department head, this role strives to continually improve guest and colleague satisfaction and maximize the financial performance in F&B Division overall.

What is in it for you:

• Employee benefit card offering discounted rates in Accor worldwide for you and your family
• Learning programs through our Academies designed to sharpen your skills
• Ability to make a difference through our Corporate Social Responsibility activities
• Career development opportunities with national and international promotion opportunities. The sky is your limit.
• Salary Range $85,000-$95,000 USD

Job Description

The Purchasing Manager oversees the procurement of goods and services through competitive bidding to ensure optimal pricing and quality in compliance with Fairmont Hotel's control policies. This role manages core purchasing functions such as receiving and delivering supplies, maintaining organized storage facilities, and ensuring accurate filing systems for hotel inventory. Additionally, the Purchasing Manager supervises receiving clerks, streamlines shipping and receiving processes, and maintains tracking systems for all transactions, including guest package signatures. By implementing best practices in inventory management, vendor relations, and operational standards, the position plays a critical role in supporting efficient hotel operations.

• Maintain appropriate par stock levels for all inventory items; promptly notify the Director of Finance & Business Support of any variances or deviations.
• Ensure all purchases, requisitions, and orders have proper approvals and comply with hotel policies and procedures.
• Partner closely with the Culinary Director and Director of F&B to align purchasing strategy with menu development, product quality standards, and operational goals.
• Lead sourcing, negotiation, and contracting of food, beverage, and commodity suppliers to secure optimal pricing, consistency, and value.
• Develop and maintain vendor relationships, conduct performance reviews, and drive continuous improvement in quality, service, and delivery reliability.
• Monitor market trends, pricing fluctuations, and supply risks to support cost control, forecasting, and budgeting in collaboration with F&B leadership.
• Implement and enforce procurement policies, inventory controls, and sustainability standards, ensuring compliance with food safety and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with culinary and operations teams to support menu roll-outs, seasonal programs, and product evaluations, including tastings and specification approvals.
• Analyze purchasing data and KPIs to identify savings opportunities, waste reduction initiatives, and supply chain efficiencies across F&B outlets.
• Oversee product specifications, quality benchmarks, and standardization of ingredients and beverages across locations to protect brand and guest experience.
• Secure competitive bids and maintain supporting documentation; ensure inventory pricing reflects current information.
• Check all Purchase Orders (POs) for authorization, signatures, price verification, and vendor assignment; maintain and control filing of all POs and related documentation, ensuring accurate system input.
• Maintain and oversee the BirchStreet purchasing system, ensuring all budget allocations, vendor profiles, and item data remain accurate and up to date; troubleshoot issues promptly and ensure receivables and inventory records are current.
• Perform daily reconciliation of food and beverage invoices and submit to Finance for processing; monitor and prepare financial reports in accordance with hotel requirements and deadlines.
• Review banquet event orders and consult with management for special requirements.
• Oversee and assist in unloading, receiving, sorting, stocking, securing, and distributing goods; ensure timely deliveries and proper rotation of stock (FIFO), as well as disposal of spoiled or damaged items.
• Manage delivery needs for hotel tenants and residences; maintain storage areas, loading dock, and related spaces in clean and safe condition.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local food and beverage storage laws, regulations, and codes.
• Receive and deliver packages to all departments and outlets; verify logs, security procedures, and make temperature logs for meat.
• Assist in month-end, quarterly, and annual inventory processes; complete monthly inventory counts and reports.
• Interview, train, coach, counsel, and develop Purchasing and Receiving staff; provide training in proper receiving procedures to ensure product freshness and adherence to SOPs; assist in developing LSOPs as needed.
• Answer department phones and respond to vendor, guest, and employee needs with a customer-oriented approach.
• Prepare bills of lading for shipments and maintain organized paperwork; ensure proper and safe packaging of customer items using packaging equipment.
• Track all price changes and keep leadership informed of unusual occurrences or deviations from standards.
• Attend and contribute to meetings and training sessions to promote morale, productivity, and efficiency.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced team environment and independently with strong work ethics; must be available for on-call needs for shipping and receiving.
• Report damages and discrepancies promptly.

Qualifications

• Graduate of a Hotel Management, Business Program or related degree
• 3-5 years of leadership experience in purchasing, with at least 2 years in the hospitality industry – preferably for a large hotel, resort, or convention facility
• Familiar with all Local, State/Provincial, and Federal laws and government regulations – not limited to import regulations, brokers and customs, food and liquor, Health, and employment/workplace safety.
• General knowledge of equipment and supplies used in a hotel environment including food and beverage products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic
• Experience with BirchStreet eProcurement/Inventory/Recipe system
• Understanding of basic accounting practices
• Experience with Microsoft Office – Word, Excel, Outlook, as well as purchasing/accounting software, and labor control software
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, organizational and administrative skills
• Possess strong communication skills, both written and verbal

Physical Aspects of Position include but are not limited to the following:

• Frequent standing and walking throughout shift
• Frequent lifting and carrying up to:
• Frequent kneeling, pushing, pulling, lifting
• Frequent ascending or descending ladders, stairs and ramps

Additional Information

Employee Benefits:

Join our team and enjoy a range of exclusive colleague perks, including complimentary upgrades, extended stays, discounted stays across Fairmont & Raffles properties, special dining and wellness discounts, and added luxuries to enhance your experience. We believe in taking care of our team, ensuring that your hard work is rewarded with exceptional benefits. Add any other benefits relevant to your property.

Our Values

Respect:

We value the needs, ideas and individuality of others. We treat everyone with fairness and dignity. 

Excellence:

We make genuine connections, and we cherish every opportunity to make the people around us feel special.​

Belonging:

We celebrate our differences. We support each other and we always stand together.​

Empowerment:

We have authority to take initiative and anticipate moments that create unforgettable experiences. ​

Integrity:

We build trust through mutual respect and being authentic.​

Diversity & Inclusion

Fairmont is committed to creating an inclusive environment where diverse talent thrives. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join our team.