Buyer

About the Role

LMC is a leading buying group for a network of independent family‑owned building material companies across the United States. The Buyer interacts with LMC’s members regarding their program requirements, identifies the best sources for products and services, negotiates optimal pricing, and provides high‑quality customer service. Assigned a specific product line or category specialty, the Buyer negotiates purchases for the Stockholders and manages vendor programs for the applicable category, aiming to increase the dealer’s share of business.

Responsibilities

• Proactively contact members via phone and electronic channels to build relationships, learn business needs, and promote programs and special offers that combine price, quality, and availability.
• Maintain strong relationships with the supplier base, fostering high‑level vendor connections on key lines.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of all product lines within the assigned area of responsibility.
• Provide the highest level of support and customer service to LMC members, ensuring dealer problems are solved promptly.
• With management assistance, develop and execute a strategic plan to optimize sales for assigned product groups.
• Improve market penetration for assigned product lines by driving sales, servicing accounts, and meeting volume targets.
• Identify opportunities for competitive programs with new suppliers or product categories that meet member needs; conduct analysis and negotiate programs.
• Implement, promote, and maintain purchasing programs that deliver the best combination of price, quality, and product availability.
• Resolve routine problems, address issues, and handle conversations with members and suppliers; elevate complex matters to management.
• Analyze purchase data for assigned dealers and understand dealer businesses.
• Visit dealer and vendor locations with a manager or senior team member; develop targeted visit plans and follow up with meeting summaries.
• Maintain frequent contact with members to ensure accurate order expediting and timely delivery.
• Examine bids and negotiate prices with dealers to secure optimal procurement prices while meeting delivery specifications.
• Stay current on market knowledge of new products and developments; keep members informed.
• Interact with Regional Managers to provide consistent communication regarding stockholder issues and sales updates.
• Serve as liaison with suppliers on quality issues, cost‑reduction efforts, and overall performance.
• Participate in LMC‑sponsored events such as trade shows.
• Maintain complete and accurate documentation for quotations, orders, claims, and other significant transactions.
• Support programs designed to increase sales and service to new dealers/customers.
• Provide timely market condition analysis, trends, prices, and other information to ensure optimal purchase pricing.
• Keep supervisor informed of project status and purchasing/sales activities.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 2+ years of experience in a professional business environment working with customers.
• Strong customer service skills and ability to understand customer needs and industry trends.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills; confidence to initiate conversations, overcome objections, and build rapport over the phone.
• Ability to make outbound phone calls to engage members, follow up on leads, conduct surveys, and perform outreach campaigns.
• Capability to learn and use LMC systems and reporting tools (CRM, LumberTrack, Purchasing Workbench, Power BI, etc.).
• Strong problem‑solving skills and ability to address customer issues.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment with some regular supervision.
• Willingness to travel to LMC events and/or member or supplier locations as needed.