Buyer

About Us

Trader Joe's is your favorite neighborhood grocery store! With over 600 stores nationwide (and growing), we are the place to be for something delicious and a friendly conversation. We love being your first and favorite place to shop.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Buyer who loves food and has a passion for vendor relationships, inventory management, and replenishment strategies. This role is based in our office in Monrovia, CA, with an in-office expectation of 5 days a week.

Responsibilities

• Forecast store demand for each SKU/DC combination to maintain appropriate inventory levels and ensure seasonal and new product launches are supported with sufficient inventory.
• Monitor inventory levels category-wide and adjust replenishment plans based on sales trends and promotional activity.
• Collaborate with vendors to secure consistent product supply by placing purchase orders and managing lead times and timely deliveries to avoid stockouts or overstock situations.
• Develop and maintain strong vendor partnerships while leading competitive bidding processes and collaborating with Category Managers on contract, pricing, and terms negotiations to ensure quality, reliability, and optimized cost and value.
• Partner with vendors on cross-dock and zero-inventory programs to meet store fill rate targets.
• Maintain accurate product and vendor data in our internal supply chain systems.
• Communicate proactively with stores and internal teams regarding product availability and supply issues.
• Work collaboratively with other departments.

Requirements

• At least 3 years of experience in replenishment, buying, or inventory management within a retail, grocery, alcohol, or produce environment.
• A Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Logistics, or related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in demand forecasting and inventory planning.
• Proven negotiating experience and vendor management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong vendor relationships.
• Knowledge of replenishment systems and supply chain processes with a customer-focused mindset.
• A detail-oriented approach with strong organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, supported by a flexible schedule that accommodates occasional travel and weekend availability.

Qualifications

We strongly prefer candidates who are raving fans of the Trader Joe's concept.