BUYER

About the role

Coordinates inventory replenishment activities with suppliers, sales, logistics and operations for assigned categories.

Responsibilities

• Place purchase orders with vendors utilizing an awareness of seasonal fluctuations, market effects and other information that require a high attention to detail to avoid spoilage, overstocks, and shortages.
• Manage and maintain the entire Purchase-to-Pay process, covering: PO Creation, Vendor Confirmation, Accurate expected delivery date updates, Collaboration with Accounts Payable to ensure payment.
• Maintain Purchasing system data to effectively generate suggested POs.
• Maintain necessary required vendor documents (electronic and physical), such as W-9’s, Indemnities, etc.
• Work closely with: Vendors to ensure POs are filled and delivered in a timely fashion; Vendors to manage FDA issues; Logistics to minimize freight expenses; Sales Managers to manage out-of-stock or over-stock risks; Customer Service teams to enable sales order growth; Buyers to build upon best‑practices.
• Build and maintain vendor relationships to not only support PO fulfillment, but also negotiate volume discounts and price breaks wherever possible.
• Manage Fusion system issues that impact Purchasing and Receiving.
• Maintain BFC dating system to minimize close dated issues and Expired product impact.

Requirements

• 5+ years buying experience with a focus on Specialty Food Products for a multi‑unit Distribution Organization.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four‑year college or university preferred.
• Previous food service distribution and/or food importing experience strongly preferred.
• Commodity product awareness including blanket commitments, contractual processes, and appropriate market tracking.

Skills

• Advanced Excel skill and additional computer skills (JDE, Microsoft Suite – Word and PowerPoint, etc.).
• Must have a sense of urgency and be able to work under pressure, comfortable in a fast‑paced, metrics‑driven environment.
• Flexible with the ability to work well with all departments and levels of staff both internally & externally.
• Professional demeanor during all interactions with vendors, customers and fellow employees via phone or in‑person.
• Drive to advance within the organization; team player with a positive attitude.
• Excellent verbal/written communication skills and a high level of analytical capabilities within Excel.
• Self‑starter, professional, goal oriented and able to handle multiple tasks.

Benefits

• Paid Vacations
• Paid Holidays
• Health, Dental and Medical Benefits
• Weekly pay
• Life Insurance
• 5% above cost for our high‑quality food products
• Employee discounts for travel and events
• 401k
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan