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

JOB FILLED - Produce Buyer

Job Description: 

We are currently seeking a Produce Buyer to become a part of our team in Boise, ID.

The Produce Buyer will be responsible for the daily management of assigned vendors, items and categories. He/she will procure, control and manage the inventory for assigned products, maintain an acceptable product service level to meet promotional, seasonal and daily needs, be responsible for new item selection, implementation and category profitability, investigate cost reductions and negotiates cost savings with vendors and perform related work.

Compensation/Salary: 
DOE
Responsibilities & Duties: 
  • Responsible for the management of perishable inventory purchased by daily review of item usage, sales, inventory adjustments, and the creation of purchase orders to replenish inventory.
  • Maintains proper inventory levels to ensure high service levels and minimal out-of-stocks.
  • Examines, selects, orders and purchases products at the most favorable price consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements and other established factors.
  • Cultivates effective relationships with vendors and brokers and leads vendor negotiations.
  • Establishes strategic relations with key suppliers that lead to new consumer and industry insights.
  • Collaborates with vendors and brokers on new items to maximize sales/profits for the department.
  • Negotiates with suppliers to achieve the most competitive pricing in order to secure an aggressive difference in pricing versus the market competition via special buys, backhaul agreements and vendor programs.
  • Investigates alternative distribution and cost options to achieve further savings.
  • Monitors integrity of assigned item pricing as well as promotional pricing.
  • Tracks and measures sales and profitability of assigned lines and performs analysis to determine impact on overall category profitability.
  • Initiates, manages and ensures timely completion of category reviews.
  • Uses various communication skills to keep key internal teams informed of promotions, cost advantages, product availability, market trends and vendor and item changes.
  • Coordinates with Division Vice Presidents, Department Vice Presidents, and Directors, retail pricing, advertising and space management on promotional buys and assigned items and categories.
  • Communicates effectively with stores, merchandising, procurement, and retail operations functioning as a liaison between Retail Operations and the Buying Department.
  • Continually assesses market competition by comparing WinCo’s product strategy with the industry including competitive store product mix checks on a regular basis.
  • Attends key trade shows.
Education: 

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, finance, economics or related field OR equivalent education, training and/or experience demonstrating considerable knowledge of negotiation, procurement and promotional practices in retail grocery in addition to experience.

Qualifications: 
  • Minimum four (4) years’ experience in grocery produce retail buying or related field.
  • Working with a rapidly growing and profitable organization.
  • Exhibiting strong ability to analyze data, make judgments and develop reports.
  • Representing subject matter expertise in the area of produce procurement.
  • Demonstrating strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, etc.) software.
  • Demonstrating a track record of cost reductions and business results through effective negotiation strategies.
  • Be extremely self-motivated, take initiative and drive results.
  • Multi-task and work in a fast-paced, multiple-priority environment.
  • Work closely with procurement management, retail management, logistics and warehousing, quality assurance, and other departments.
  • Be highly organized and detail oriented.
  • Demonstrate experience with both commodity (whole case) and processed products
  • Negotiate contracts and terms in order to gain maximum advantage for costs and vendor funding opportunities.
  • Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with fellow employees and outside contacts, user groups and vendors.
  • Write and speak clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings.
  • Respectfully challenge standard practices to find a better way to get things done.
  • Travel as needed.
  • Be available to respond to calls on urgent matters involving including after business hours, on weekends and holidays if necessary.
  • Experience with technology and systems related to produce quality assessment and sourcing such as iTrade and Foodlink.
  • Superior knowledge of produce specific information such as seasons, inflation / deflation cycles, vendors, and pricing.
  • Working knowledge of commodity source locations both domestically and internationally, growing and harvesting practices, environment and regulatory issues affecting production and the industry in general
  • Retail Grocery experience at store level
  • Knowledge of the retail grocery industry and corresponding products.
  • Buying Experience in other Perishable Departments such as Bakery, Meat, Deli and Seafood, will be considered.

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