Retail Buyer (1512)

Summary

Responsible for the procurement of assigned goods required to support Goodwill Industries of South Florida (“Goodwill”).  Help develop and use procurement best practices to obtain the lowest cost and best lead times for assigned items.  Continuously develops relationships with Goodwill personnel and suppliers. 

General Purchasing Duties/Responsibilities

To source and introduce product ranges that suit the Goodwill Stores and customer base. Pitch ideas for new product ranges, attend trade shows, and identify suitable suppliers. Negotiate purchase terms and transportation rates with suppliers. Analyze inventory data to identify strong and weak sellers. Assist in training retail staff on successfully merchandising new products. Generate reports and forecasts, collaborate with internal company stakeholders, suppliers, logistics providers, retail store personnel, inventory personnel, and support staff, providing cross-training and support to Buyers in the Purchasing Department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following, and other duties may be assigned.

• Identify the need to place orders, meeting criteria such as price, quantity, quality, and delivery date.
• Track purchase orders and backorders to ensure the product is available according to timeline commitments and ensure on-time delivery.
• Expedite/Defer existing orders with vendors to manage proper inventory levels.
• Provide complete and accurate status reports as requested by management.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers to ensure reliable and consistent delivery of goods and services, and address any issues or concerns promptly and effectively.
• Support other buyers in negotiating pricing, terms, and conditions with suppliers to secure favorable contracts, and continuously improve negotiation skills by actively participating in discussions and learning from experienced team members.
• Assist in identifying potential suppliers and evaluating their capabilities and reliability.
• Work with vendors to resolve receiving and quality issues.
• Process and maintain sample requests to ensure timely results for new products.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience                                                 

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, or a related discipline. 
• Minimum five (5) years of purchasing experience with strong knowledge of purchasing methods and procedures. 
• Strong understanding of cost management, supply chain management, and logistics. 

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems promptly; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem-solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotionally charged topics.
• Language Skills: Must speak English. Bilingual (English/Spanish) highly desirable. Ability to read and interpret documents, including safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers, vendors, or employees of the organization. Communicate (via both telephone and/or email) and resolve issues promptly.
• Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should