Buyer Field

The role sits in the Replenishment Buying organization at the Area level. The Area Buyer will utilize category expertise and vendor-specific knowledge to manage inventory levels for all assigned items, suppliers, and/or categories while maintaining service level targets to customers. This is an elevated, standardized role focusing on high-value buying actions such as PO management, inventory monitoring, and core KPI reporting. The Area Buyer will serve as the primary point of contact for vendor POs within an Area and collaborate with Replenishment operations to problem-solve and ensure customer order fulfillment.

For external candidates: Must be able to commute to the US Foods location in Perth Amboy, NJ. The role is hybrid, requiring onsite presence 2 days per month. For internal candidates: Must be located near a US Foods location and work EST hours, with a hybrid schedule of 2 days per month onsite.

Responsibilities

• Daily replenishment duties and KPI monitoring: Drive core Replenishment buying work and ensure key functions are fulfilled.
• KPI Reporting: Deliver on desk-specific goals such as Service Level, Days-Inventory-On-Hand (DIOH), Excess and Obsolete inventory (E&O), and Spoilage.
• PO preparation: Analyze economic order quantities, forecasts, lead times, vendor set-up, safety stock, etc., and use discretion to create efficient purchase orders with suppliers.
• PO Buying: Execute forward-buy opportunities to achieve profitability for the period or year-end based on targeted goals. Control decision rights on PO execution and timing to balance KPIs with business needs.
• Inventory Monitoring: Proactively review projected out-of-stock reports daily and make purchasing decisions, including finding substitute products where appropriate, to ensure customer order fulfillment.
• Inventory Reporting: Routinely monitor and escalate (with suggested actions) crucial inventory health reports such as stockouts, waitlists, and subgroup exception reports.
• PO monitoring & recovery: Establish sharp communication with internal partners on supplier production delays or order shortages while pursuing recovery options with urgency.
• Cross-functional coordination and company performance optimization:
  • Inventory Optimization: Collaborate with internal and external partners to reduce overstock, slow-moving, and obsolete inventory, and initiate product returns where applicable.
  • Spoilage Minimization: Utilize understanding of product shelf life and manufacturing dates to prevent spoilage for specific buying categories.
  • Seasonal Adjustments: Communicate closely with cross-functional partners to capture seasonal trends and events and drive profitability with accurate costs.
  • Category Management Coordination: Partner with the product/category management team to maintain supplier relationships and accountability.
  • Logistics Coordination: Cooperate with Logistics and Replenishment Excellence teams to identify and achieve freight consolidation for maximum net income and best cost of goods.
  • Warehouse Operations Coordination: Evaluate inbound volume and purchase history to collaborate with warehouse operations on efficient receiving practices.
• Team cooperation & continuous improvement:
  • Participate on a team of 3-10 Buyers and help drive continuous improvement by sharing challenges, operational learnings, and opportunities to improve standard processes.
  • Ensure smooth coordination and information flow between Replenishment Operations, cross-functional partners, and Area Buying operations.
  • Contribute to a strong culture of customer service orientation, collaboration, performance, and continuous improvement within the team.

Requirements

• 1+ years of direct inventory management/supply chain experience required.
• Superior oral and written communication along with strong analytical skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with suppliers, sales, field partners, and other business contacts via telephone, email, and video conferencing.
• General understanding of logistics and support of an efficient distribution model.
• Ability to handle high-pressure situations to meet daily/weekly timelines with a high sense of urgency.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to quickly learn new technologies; SCPO experience is heavily preferred.

Qualifications

• A four-year degree is highly preferred. Equivalent work experience and applicable certifications (e.g., Military Service, APICS, CPM) may also be considered.
• Minimum 3 years of purchasing experience preferred, with food service experience a plus.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Pre-tax spending accounts
• Retirement benefits
• Paid time off
• Short-term and long-term disability
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Life insurance
• Annual incentive plan bonus

Pay

The expected base rate for this role is between $65,000 - $105,000, depending on relevant experience, education, specific skills, function, geographic location, and other factors as applicable by law.

Schedule

Hybrid: This role is partially remote, with the associate expected to work from a combined home-based and office-based environment. Onsite presence is required 2 days per month at the Perth Amboy, NJ location.