Direct Goods Buyer (50217)

About the role

The Direct Goods Buyer role oversees the end-to-end procurement process for horticultural products. They will be responsible for developing and executing procurement strategies, negotiating contracts with suppliers, and ensuring a steady and cost-effective supply of horticultural goods. Collaborating closely with vendors, they will cultivate and manage relationships, monitor product quality, and enforce compliance with industry standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute procurement strategies
• Negotiate contracts with suppliers
• Ensure a steady and cost-effective supply of horticultural goods
• Cultivate and manage relationships with vendors
• Maintain product quality and enforce compliance with industry standards
• Support efforts in recruiting, hiring, and onboarding new employees
• Foster a culture of continuous learning by providing training and development opportunities
• Effectively manage employee performance by clearly communicating expectations, providing regular and constructive feedback, and addressing both positive contributions and areas for improvement
• Oversee plant material purchasing for assigned territory
• Issue purchase order requisitions and ensure alignment with project needs, budgets, and timelines
• Negotiate and manage supplier pricing and delivery terms
• Provide updated pricing and quotes for special projects to the estimating team and ensure timely communication of any price changes
• Source and qualify new vendors to ensure consistent supply, reduce risk, and support regional project demands
• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing suppliers to ensure service reliability and quality standards are met
• Collaborate with the logistics team on delivery requirements for internal and external plant deliveries, coordinating with branches on timing and specifications
• Maintain plant material quality, verifying that all products meet or exceed applicable nursery or municipal standards
• Proactively identify supply shortages or quality issues and recommend appropriate substitutions or corrective actions
• Conduct site visits to nurseries or vendor locations, tagging plant materials and capturing submittal photos as required to support internal documentation or customer approval processes
• Maintain accurate purchasing data and system parameters, such as lead times, minimum order quantities (MOQs), and volume price breaks, ensuring clean data in ERP or procurement systems to support accurate forecasting and inventory planning
• Evaluate vendor performance and provide feedback, identifying opportunities to improve quality, service, or responsiveness
• Support internal teams with vendor-related issues as needed
• Recommend process improvements that enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of procurement operations
• Collaborate with other procurement team members to standardize best practices across regions
• Stay informed of industry trends and plant availability, including seasonal impacts, market shifts, or regulatory changes that may affect procurement decisions or material costs
• Support the Procurement Coordinators in completing their essential functions during periods of absence or higher business demands

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of horticulture in the landscaping industry
• Progressive experience, preferably with 2 years of purchasing experience and at least 3 years in a leadership or managerial role
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Proficient in computer and technology skills including working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe, and mobile devices
• Ability to travel frequently to conduct site visits to nurseries, vendor locations and branches
• Valid US driver’s license (or equivalent) and meet Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) verification requirements

Benefits

About Us
Juniper is a full-service landscape design, build, and management company servicing the Southeast. Our family of companies proudly includes Juniper, Davis Landscape, Elegant, Shooter & Lindsey, Hilton Head Landscapes and Rip's. We are recognized as award-winning leaders in our industry with over 30 locations and 2,000+ team members. At Juniper, the foundation of who we are, how we perform, and how we treat others is guided by our core values. We are committed to a culture that welcomes, grows, and celebrates people who share in our mission to design, build, and maintain the best landscaping in the industry. We offer career growth opportunities and excellent benefits (health/dental/vision insurance, 401K, and PTO plans). Join our company, where we Welcome/Grow/Celebrate you at Juniper!