Buyer - Joe Produce | Produce Jobs, Produce Careers, Agriculture Jobs, Agriculture Careers

Buyer

Job Description: 

Organically Grown Company, the Northwest’s Premier distributor of organic produce is seeking a full time Buyer to be based out of its Portland OR Eugene location.  With warehouses in Portland and Eugene, Oregon and Kent, Washington, OGC serves over 200 natural and fine foods stores and restaurants located throughout western Oregon and Washington, as well as retail and wholesale accounts in other western states and Canada. Check out our website at www.organicgrown.com to read about our commitment to sustainable business practices.
This position is primarily responsible for purchasing produce for sales to Organically Grown Company accounts.

Responsibilities & Duties: 
  • Maintain regular contact with suppliers to obtain information about product availability, place orders, establish prices and resolve quality issues.
  • Provide sales staff with updates on product availability, product delivery, peak and finish, quality and price; Participate in weekly meetings to review availability and inventory maintenance issues.
  • Interact with sales team to support account needs: provide ad quote pricing, monitor inventory levels, respond to specific product requests, and address quality concerns.
  • Work with suppliers to assess field conditions, create forecasts, and monitor execution.
  • Maintain effective communication with all parties via e-mail, phone and fax on an as-needed basis, including after business hours; Attend regular Purchasing Inventory Maintenance (PIM) Department meetings.
  • Represent OGC as an initial purchasing contact for potential row crop suppliers.  Prepare reports on supplier capabilities to meet OGC product needs and compliance requirements.
  • Work with suppliers to assess field conditions and develop crop forecasts as assigned.  Report out in a manner that effectively informs sales planning and optimizes purchasing execution.
  • Work with suppliers to monitor harvest, packing, and logistical execution as assigned.
  • Contribute to row crop supplier development as a resource for information and referrals in the following areas:  planting schedule planning, crop variety selection, rotation/nutrient/pest management, harvest timing and projection reporting, scale-appropriate post-harvest technology, produce quality and packing and supply requirements, basics of food safety and organic compliance.
  • Participate in commodity team work groups related to row crop planning and project execution.
  • Contribute to PIM and cross-departmental projects, and project collaborations with external organizations.
Qualifications: 

Position typically requires a High School diploma, or equivalent and an Undergraduate degree with a focus on agricultural sciences preferred. Position also requires a minimum of 3-5 years of job experience in the agricultural or produce trades, or overall equivalent education and experience.  Must have a strong knowledge of organic farming practices and organic produce varieties. Also, must have a strong crop planning and field based forecasting skilled and experience. Knowledge of specific tools and resources available to develop row crop supplier capabilities preferred.

Experienced with working independently in a variety of settings with the flexibility to travel 20-40% of the time seasonally.  Must have project management experience, strong writing and presentation skills. Previous experience working for an organization with aspirational sustainability goals desired.

Ideal candidates will have demonstrated the following competencies:

  • We are passionate about produce and sustainability
  • We provide exceptional customer service
  • We share ownership and leadership
  • We act with joy and gratitude
  • We inspire trust
  • Approachable
  • Negotiating
  • Problem Solving
  • Managing Vision and Purpose
  • Business Acumen    Composure
  • Timely Decision Making
  • Decision Quality
  • Informing
  • Quality Decision Making
  • Organizational Agility
  • Sizing Up People
  • Written Communication
  • Organizing
  • Interpersonal Savvy
  • Strategic Agility
  • Intermediate to advanced PPro skills
  • Intermediate MS Office suite software skills

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