Charlie’s Produce is a privately owned wholesale produce company. We are the largest privately owned produce wholesaler on the West Coast, with distribution centers in Seattle, Spokane, Portland, Anchorage and Los Angeles. The secret to our 35 + years of success in this industry is PEOPLE!
We strive to hire the best and we reward them with a working environment that fosters loyalty, stability, innovation, and growth. Charlie’s provides a healthy employee stock ownership program, competitive Medical/Dental/Vision and Life Insurance plans. And our newest benefit offers Pre-Paid Fully Funded College Tuition to our employees and the dependent children of our employees!
We are currently looking for a Produce Broker to join the Charlies Produce Trading Company team.
This person will be responsible for the procurement and national sales of produce. Coordinates procurement and sales activities with other brokers under the supervision of the CPTC Director to ensure a well-coordinated product line is offered to customers. Must be highly flexible to service needs and have an ability to work in a fast paced, closely configured work environment. There will be a focus on creating new customer relationships and customer development. Focus on addressing the needs and insuring the satisfaction of our customers and vendors. These activities include assigned customers and vendors as well as the accounts of other department personnel.
- Minimum three to five years produce experience.
- Strong commodities knowledge including vegetables and fruits.
- Effective interpersonal skills to communicate with customers and peers. Strong phone skills.
- Proven negotiation skills.
- Able to multi-task and work well under pressure in a day-to-day work plan. Strong organization skills.
- Education requirements: High School diploma, 2 years college preferred
- Some travel required: visiting growers & attending produce conventions.
- Flexibility in hours/days worked:
- Monday through Friday & must be available to come early & stay late as needed to cover purchasing needs. Must be available after-hours by phone should a product issue arise.
- General knowledge/some experience with warehouse equipment.
- Strong math required to quickly multiply & add cases/pallets & calculate product cost and margin.
- Timely and accurate with paperwork, figures, attentive to detail, and have good follow-through, excellent phone skills and PC skills (Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point).
- Must be flexible and able to deal with a variety of details simultaneously.
- Must have proven problem-solving skills.
- Prefer both retail and wholesale produce experience.
- Must have own reliable vehicle and proof of insurance
- Contacts suppliers to negotiate and acquire product for sale
- Maintains effective communications with other buyers and sales representatives for product sales.
- Manage and strengthen product line to satisfy customer needs.
- Has knowledge of product line, prices and similar data as required.
- Keeping abreast of market conditions and new items.
- Pricing strategies—developing price/order guides.
- Meeting all individual and department sales and profit objectives.
- Make presentations to potential and existing customers and vendors.
- Maintain effective, professional relationships with customers, vendors, and fellow employees.
- Participate in special projects.
- Attend all sales meetings and appointments, (be on time, punctual).
- Make sure all orders are submitted before scheduled cut off times.
- Responsible for processing and turning in credit memos and other job related paperwork within the set time lines.
- Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.
- High school diploma/2 year’s college. At least five (3-5) years sales experience selling food service products; produce knowledge preferred. Prefer a candidate who brings existing customer relationships.
