JOB FILLED - Product Manager - Joe Produce | Produce Jobs, Produce Careers, Agriculture Jobs, Agriculture Careers

JOB FILLED - Product Manager

Job Description: 
Would you like to positively affect people through increased fresh fruit and vegetable consumption? Work for a company with a culture that values teamwork, loyalty, and a commitment to excellence? If so, then we’d like to talk to you.
 
From its headquarters in Salinas, Markon Cooperative, Inc. provides fresh produce purchasing, logistics, information and marketing services exclusively to its five member distributors (Ben E. Keith Foods, Gordon Food Service, Gordon Food Service Canada, Nicholas & Company, and Shamrock Foods Company) and their foodservice customers. A leader in food safety, quality control and innovation, Markon is also mindful of the produce industry's impact on people – from field workers to consumers. At Markon, we put people first, and we offer a culture that values team work, loyalty, and a commitment to excellence.
 
We are seeking an experienced, passionate Produce Buyer (Product Manager) to play a critical leadership role in the Purchasing Department. 
 
The ideal candidate will exercise high level commodity expertise, negotiation and problem-solving ability within an assigned commodity team.  This position continually strives to meet the needs and expectations of customers, and to provide them with a competitive edge. Product Managers mentor and train Purchasing Coordinators by identifying daily opportunities to improve proficiencies and knowledge.  Good sense of humor is a plus!
 
May be designated as a Pod Leader* which entails guiding a commodity team’s goals and results. 

Compensation/Salary: 
DOE
Responsibilities & Duties: 

Product Management

  • Acts as a source of knowledge within a Purchasing team; gathers market information and understands and communicates market conditions and variables.
  • Creates timely, accurate price sheets.
  • Creates competitive bids that work for customers.
  • Processes order bookings, order changes and adjustments.
  • Tracks customers product volume and addresses shortfalls.
  • Performs rotating evening and Saturday on-call problem-resolution duties as the Markon management representative in off-hour situations, recognizing the time-constraints needing to be addressed with shippers and produce life (on-call pay provided).

Negotiation

  • Acts as a resource for designated produce categories; determines market pricing levels and uses that information to offer value.
  • Exhibits appropriate skills to negotiate prices, products, delivered sales, etc. and ensures adequate product supply to meet demand.
  • Builds strong procurement vendor relationships through excellent service and category expertise.
  • Chases availability and price deals; seeks out new products and grows designated categories through deals and promotions.

*Team Leadership

  • Accepts accountability for the team’s annual growth.
  • Guides the work of the team’s members.
  • Models and provides opportunities for individual and team growth, collaboration and success.
  • Effectively guides the work of support staff to ensure the timely completion of tasks.
Qualifications: 
  • Any combination of education and experience that provide the skills needed to successfully complete the essential functions; typically, through a Bachelors or Associates degree 2+ years of produce purchasing experience. Candidates with 5+ years of produce buying experience strongly preferred.
  • Strong computer skills, including database, Excel, Outlook and ability to learn new programs quickly.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to provide exceptional customer service, both internal and external.
  • Ability to identify and resolve complex problems independently and with sound judgment.
  • Ability to consistently demonstrate accuracy, thoroughness, dependability, initiative, flexibility, enthusiasm and team work in a fast paced environment.
  • Ability to be on-call, after hours 1-3 days per month and work some Saturdays (on-call pay provided).
Salary & Benefits:
Competitive salary and benefits package. This is a full-time, salaried exempt position. Employer subsidized health, vision and dental insurance effective on the first of the month following hire. 401K contribution and profit sharing after one year of employment. PTO accrual and paid holidays from date of hire. 
 

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