Senior Buyer, Food & Beverage

 Job Title: Senior Buyer, Food & Beverage

Position Type: Full-time

Location: West Covina, CA; 5 Days on-site

Salary Range / Rate (Currency): $100k-180k base, plus bonus

Job ID#: 138178

About the Position

Under the supervision of the Merchandise Manager, the Senior Buyer will assist Merchandise manager in overseeing Food & Beverage Category in merchandise procurement, product assortment, turnover, and P&L, and all the related issues with the assigned categories. You will be responsible for purchase order management, inventory maintaining, replenishment to stores, preparation for the report and plan in a timely, efficient manner.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Collaboration: Partner with the Merchandise Manager to streamline both HQ and local procurement initiatives. Contribute to the creation and execution of the local procurement product matrix.
• Management Experience: Candidates should have demonstrated experience in managing a small team, with direct supervision of 3 to 5 personnel. Effective leadership and the ability to mentor junior buyers or purchasing assistants are essential.
• Budgeting & Planning: Formulate and implement local procurement product purchase budgets and action plans. Take charge of specific product categories, ensuring complete and efficient procurement processes.
• Vendor Resource Management: Experienced and knowledgeable in purchasing practices and supply chain management. A key part of this role is to manage vendor resources efficiently. This includes selecting vendors, negotiating purchase terms, managing contracts, and maintaining relationships to ensure a reliable supply of quality products.
• Supplier & Inventory Management: Direct procurement, sample acquisition, and liaise with suppliers for product assortment decisions. Monitor inventory fluctuations, pinpointing and addressing issues promptly. Strategize and execute plans for introducing new local procurement products. Engage with suppliers to balance cost, quality, delivery efficiency, and stability of supply.
• Performance Analysis: Oversee key performance indicators for the local procurement team. Keep track of stockouts, slow sellers, and product lifespan, suggesting and implementing optimization techniques when necessary.
• Sales & Marketing Integration: Supervise local procurement product sales projections, order processing, deliveries, and financial transactions. Facilitate the integration of marketing plans, shelving accessories, and display materials for local products in stores.
• Reporting & Documentation: Regularly generate detailed reports on local procurement product performance, both weekly and monthly. Skillfully use and navigate internal systems like OA, SAP, and other relevant product-related software.
• Interdepartmental Coordination: Collaborate with various internal teams - including HQ, warehousing, operations, logistics, finance, and marketing - to ensure smooth product integration, expense approvals, product launches, and promotional rollouts.
• Issue Resolution: Address and resolve any complexities arising from procurement orders, ensuring prompt confirmations and proactive problem-solving.
• Other Duties: Undertake any other related tasks or projects as they arise.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, with a strong inclination for candidates with a specialization in Supply Chain Management.
• Minimum of 3 years in procurement, merchandising, or equivalent roles in the retail sector. Prior experience in the Food & Beverage category will be considered a significant advantage.
• Advanced skills in MS Excel tailored for analytical tasks and reporting. Acquaintance with OA/SAP platforms is highly valued.
• Demonstrated ability to address and resolve challenges efficiently.
• Proficient in juggling multiple tasks concurrently without compromising on quality.
• Outstanding communication capabilities, suitable for both internal discussions and external negotiations.
• Proven track record in collaborating cross-functionally with diverse teams, spanning different geographical locations and time zones.
• Attention to details, with a commitment to maintaining high standards of work consistently.
• Agility to pivot as per changing circumstances, maintaining composure during pressure situations, and swiftly responding to market or strategy alterations.