We are currently hiring a Produce Buyer in Houston, TX at our distribution center where you will be buying produce for 62 different stores.
As the Produce Buyer you will be responsible for the profitable procurement and timely delivery of products for assigned lines. You will work closely with other team members in order to achieve the goals of the company. You are also responsible for chain/inventory management and corresponding financial accountabilities.
All of our stores were founded around the philosophy of offering customers the products they want to buy at a fair price, with lots of tender, loving care. We still open our doors every day with that in mind, and because of it, we run really great stores.
With our recent merger in January 2015, we are one of the largest food and drug retailers in the country, with over 2,200 stores in 33 states and the District of Columbia, employing approximately 265,000 people.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing preferred or equivalent work experience.
- Minimum of 2+ years of Purchasing or Vendor Management experience in the retail industry.
- Retail operations/Marketing experience preferred or strong understanding of store operations and merchandising methodologies and practices.
- Understanding of procurement, logistics and inventory management practices.
- Excellent analytical and problem solving skills, with experience in taking initiative and making appropriate decisions.
- Planning and organizing skills.
- Written and verbal communication skills as well as interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective business relationships within and outside the company.
- Computer aptitude with the ability to use spreadsheet and word-processing software.
- Obtain best possible product quality at competitive pricing at all times.
- Strive to meet or exceed inventory turn goals and service levels.
- Interface with other department heads and division personnel to accomplish job functions.
- Develop and maintain good working relationships with suppliers, store operations, distribution center and division office personnel.
- Review acquisition costs to ensure items purchased are at the lowest cost consistent with considerations of quality, reliability of source, and urgency of need.
- Assess current inventory, growing conditions, seasonality, promotional activity and logistics situation to determine order quantities.
- Complete Purchase Orders and input using mainframe and iTrade functionality.
- Conduct post-promotional reviews and analysis to determine if promotional requirements were met and if there were problem areas. Develops solutions if needed.
- Conduct logistics planning processes while ordering products to attain the best net product price possible.
- Review and analyze daily and weekly reports to check service levels and inventory turns, and make adjustments as needed.
- Visit stores, as needed, to monitor programs, obtain store feedback and assess overall implementation effectiveness as needed.
- Approve Accounts Payable variance processes for distribution sourced items to ensure correct prices have been invoiced.
- Coordinate with Warehouse Operations to maintain the proper product flow through the facility, in a timely manner.
- Remote access (buying system) from home or off site location when necessary.
