The Whole Foods Market Global Produce Purchasing Team leads the company’s efforts to identify and secure the world’s best fruit, vegetables, and flowers for sale in our stores. Global Senior Buyers work with our suppliers, global and regional buyers, and other key stakeholders to lead procurement strategy on a broad range of produce categories (as assigned) for distribution to all Whole Foods Market stores in the United States and Canada.
Key responsibilities include: demand forecasting, supply plan development, management of supply agreements and contracts, supplier selection and relationship management, cost forecasting and control, and promotion planning and execution. The Global Perishables Team is a fast-paced, detail-oriented, and team-focused work environment.
The position is based at either WFM Global Headquarters in Austin, TX or at the Global Perishables Purchasing Office in Watsonville, CA.
- Six years’ experience in the produce business, preferably in national scale procurement or sales.
- Extensive understanding of WFM produce and floral product mix and supply base.
- Experience negotiating and executing large scale purchasing agreements for produce.
- Analytical skills to work effectively with data in various formats such as Excel pivot tables.
- Advanced understanding of produce industry information sources and terminology.
- Ability to comprehend, interpret, analyze: instructions, correspondence, spec and standards documents, journals/articles, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
- Ability to create effective written correspondence, reports, plans, and procedural manuals.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and aptitude for group presentation.
- Computer skills: Outlook, use of Smartphone, Excel, Word, SharePoint, and digital cameras.
- Ability to travel (up to 25% of time) to visit suppliers and support regional teams.
- Commitment to the highest level of customer service and a passion for good food.
- Commitment to the principles and core values of Whole Foods Market.
- Provide procurement leadership at global scale on produce and floral categories as assigned.
- Develop and maintain category supply plans to support and inform retail objectives.
- Support global and regional buyers with purchasing execution and promotions.
- Track, manage, and report on performance of categories to drive continuous improvement.
- Negotiate, write, and manage short and long term supply agreements.
- Manage global supplier relationships and lead regular business review meetings.
- Serve as internal expert on assigned categories and support internal teams as necessary.
- Contribute to long range supply development work on global perishables team.
- Participate as active member of WFM produce and global perishables teams.
