Area Buyer (Hybrid role: Onsite & Virtual)

External Applicants: You must be located in Anchorage AK Fife WA or Everett role is segmented as Hybrid meaning the position will be onsite 2 days a month and virtual.

Internal Applicants: You must be located near a US Foods location and work PST hours. The role is segmented as Hybrid meaning the position will be onsite 2 days a month and virtual.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Daily replenishment duties and KPI monitoring:

Drive the core Replenishment buying work and ensure key functions are being fulfilled.

• KPI Reporting: Delivers on KPIs for desk specific goals such as: Service Level Days-Inventory-On-Hand (DIOH) Excess and Obsolete inventory (E&O) and Spoilage.

• PO preparation: Analyzes economic order quantities forecasts lead times vendor set-up safety stock etc. and uses discretion and independent judgment to create efficient purchase orders with our suppliers.

• PO Buying: Executes forward-buy opportunities to achieve profitability for period or year-end based on targeted goals. Controls decision rights on PO execution timing and to ensure KPIs are balanced with needs of the business.

• Inventory Monitoring: Proactively reviews projected out of stock report daily and makes purchasing decisions including how and where to find substitute products where appropriate to ensure we deliver on customer order fulfillment.

• Inventory Reporting: Routinely monitor (and escalate with suggested actions as needed) crucial inventory health reports such as stock outs waitlist and subgroup exception reports

• PO monitoring & recovery: Establish sharp communication with internal partners on supplier production delays or order shortages while pursuing recovery options with urgency.

Cross-functional coordination and company performance optimization:

Coordinate cross functionally to manage and improve key drivers of company performance

• Inventory Optimization: Collaborates with internal and external business partners to reduce overstock slow-moving and obsolete inventory as well as initiate product returns where applicable.

• Spoilage Minimization: Utilizes understanding of product shelf life and manufacturing dates in the prevention of spoilage for specific buying categories.

• Seasonal Adjustments: Communicates closely with our cross-functional partners to capture seasonal trends and events in the business as well as drive profitability with accurate costs.

• Category Management Coordination: Partners appropriately with product/category management team to maintain supplier relationships and proper accountability.

• Logistics Coordination: Cooperates with the Logistics and Replenishment Excellence teams to identify and achieve freight consolidation in order to maximize net income and best cost of goods.

• Warehouse Operations Coordination: Evaluates inbound volume and purchase history to collaborate with warehouse operations on efficient receiving practices.

Team cooperation & continuous improvement:

Participate on a team of 3-10 talented Buyers and help drive continuous improvement within the team. Specifically providing:

• Continuous improvement: Share your current challenges operational learnings and opportunities with the Area Replenishment staff to make recommendations for how to improve standard processes
• Clear communication channels: Ensure smooth coordination and information flow between Replenishment Operations cross-functional partners and Area Buying operations

• Culture building: Contribute to a strong culture of customer service orientation collaboration performance and continuous improvement within the team

SUPERVISION:

Directly reports to a Director Area Replenishment (or in some instances: Manager Replenishment)

RELATIONSHIPS

This role sits within the Replenishment function and it is part of a dedicated Area Replenishment Buying team which must coordinate with other Replenishment functions and cross-functional personnel

• Replenishment Operations: The role will communicate with Replenishment Leads/Assistants to confirm POs are delivered successfully and remedy situations in which issues arise
• Replenishment Excellence: The role will be supported by a talented team of inventory optimization and demand forecasting personnel. Buyers will coordinate with these teams to optimize PO buying decisions and truck builds

• Additional functions to work closely with:
  • Logistics: OTD issues truck building order shortages/delays
  • Warehouse Operations: Receiving schedules & practices
  • Category Management: Commodity buying guidance supplier & sourcing decisions
  • Sales: Customer service support

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 1 years of direct inventory management/supply chain experience required.

• Possess superior oral and written communication along with strong analytical skills.

• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with suppliers sales field partners and other business contacts via telephone email and video conferencing.

• Must have a general understanding of logistics and connection in support of an efficient distribution model.

• Must be able to deal with high pressure situations to meet daily/weekly timelines with a high sense of urgency.

• Ability to function in Microsoft Excel

• Ability to quickly learn new technologies with SCPO experience heavily preferred.

EDUCATION

• Four-year degree is highly preferred. Equivalent work experience and applicable certifications may be considered as well (Military Service APICS CPM etc.).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 3 years purchasing experience preferred with food service experience a plus.

This role will also receive annual incentive plan bonus.