Grocery Outlet

About Grocery Outlet:

• Our Mission: Touching lives for the better
• Our Vision: Touching lives by being the first choice for bargain-minded consumers in the U.S.
• Our Values & Behaviors: Achievement, Diversity, Entrepreneurship, Family, Fun, Integrity & Service

About the Team:

The members of our purchasing team are part of a very dynamic group of individuals. Often called the heart of the organization, the team is built of purchasing VP’s, Directors, Buyers, Associate Buyers, and Assistant Buyers. Eight different departments make up this best in class buying team – Grocery, Refrigerated, Frozen, Produce & Floral, Fresh Meat & Seafood, Beer & Wine, General Merchandise, and Health & Beauty Care. The unique buying model of Grocery Outlet is multifaceted and therefore brings out the passion, creativity, and the “art” of closeout buying in each of our team members. All the departments and teams work collaboratively with the same goal in mind, “to provide bargain-minded customers with the deepest discounts on quality/branded products.” Equally important is building and maintaining vendor relationships. Our buyers are empowered with speed, flexibility and quick decision making to provide solutions for our vendor partners. An ideal addition to the purchasing team will bring a cultural fit, energy, passion, creative thinking, and the desire to be best in class as an individual and as a team member.

About the role:

This role is responsible for Meat and Seafood purchasing as well as supporting IO’s and field merchandisers. This role encompasses all aspects of purchasing perishable Meat and Seafood, business development, assortment management, merchandising and food safety. A part of the role is day-to-day maintenance functions, data analysis and accurate data entry. This role ensures accuracy in the ordering process while facilitating communications between vendors, corresponding buyers, merchandisers and our stores. This role reports to the Director - Purchasing. 

Responsibilities Include:

• Support Meat and Seafood team on day-to-day functions of the department.
• Develop new relationships as well as foster existing relationships to drive the success of assigned commodities.
• Responsible for category management for multiple classes and sub-classes within the Meat and Seafood department.
• Monitors on-order and manages weekly receipt flow into DC to insure timely arrival of orders.
• Responsible for direct store shipments – Flex order Guide.
• Responsible for understanding and implementing data related to assigned commodities.
• Identify, create and maintain everyday items within assigned classes and sub-classes.
• Understand and execute appropriate distribution of products and maintain proper turn goal.
• Find, create and present weekly Hot Buys to the stores via phone and in-person meetings.
• Manage assigned commodities to achieve department financial metrics, WOW items and SCORE items.
• Ensure that communication (written/verbal) is complete and thorough with vendors and internal partners.
• Manage marketing event planning and assist with creation of packaging and branding for the department.
• Analyze opportunistic opportunities and communicate to the department and store recommendations.
• Cultivate and maintain positive working relationships and communication with vendors, internal departments, stores, and warehouses.
• Identify and shop competition (including price checks); understand the target customer.
• Identify trends within the department to help reach and exceed sales and margin plan.
• Review sales by store by SKU; identifying hot and slow sellers.
• Develop and maintain vendor relationships; work with vendors and Buyer to help negotiate better terms and/or costs for merchandise being purchased.
• Establishes and maintains a reputation of credibility and responsiveness; promptly returns vendor and store phone calls, ensures timely follow-up on issues within 24 hours.
• Write articles addressed to store managers and operators communicating organic trends, merchandising recommendations and general knowledge of the organic category.

About The Pay:

• Base Salary Range: $85,000 - $100,000 Annually
• Annual Bonus Program
• Equity
• 401(k) Profit Sharing
• Medical, Dental, Vision & More!
• Final compensation will be determined based upon experience and skills and may vary based on location.

About you: 

• A. Degree or 3 to 5 years retail/sales or related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, outgoing, willing to help others and positive attitude
• Proficient in the use of Excel, Microsoft Word and Outlook
• You are keen to details and highly organized!
• Resourceful and able to research problems and recommend solutions.
• You are highly analytical and numerical savvy.
• Strong written & verbal communication skills
• Meat/Seafood industry awareness or interest with the ability to understand and research current trends, within competition and market.
• Ability to prioritize, multitask and manage multiple projects with broad workload to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Proven team player, self-motivated, independent-thinker
• Ability to reprioritize projects and adapt to change frequently
• Able to effectively and respectfully communicate with all levels of staff and management

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