Prepared Foods Buyer Full-time 35 Northampton

River Valley Co-op Our Mission:River Valley Co-op staff members are all empowered ambassadors for our cooperatives mission of creating a just marketplace that nourishes the community.

Cooperative values and the larger cooperative movement inspire us to work together for a more sustainable and just future. As a team we work to leverage our grocery retails economic impact for positive social change in the food system our environment and our community. We are committed to social justice and developing our anti-racism and multicultural skills throughout our organization.

Our cooperatively-owned business values working together in partnership with our local food producers other vendors and service providers community organizations employees and our customers to serve our community food needs in ways that sustainably support our mutual needs and aspirations. We prioritize building and sustaining our business operations capacity to generate positive impacts for our employees business partners customers local economy the common good of our community and the environment.

Our friendly store operations specializing in fresh local organically grown and natural foods builds community resilience and grows our local economy.We work hard and have fun doing it act with honesty kindness and respect and strive to improve every day.

Position:PREPARED FOODS BUYER

Requires open availability including evenings and weekends.

Status: Reports to Prepared Foods Manager

Works closely with Category Assistant Manager - Perishables

Pay Level: IV non-exempt.

Purpose: The Prepared Foods Buyer is responsible for purchasing products supplies and packaging including taking daily inventory establishing par levels and monitoring costs. They receive products and maintain all storage areas. They enter invoice data and participate in inventory including maintaining accurate inventory sheets. This position will provide a high level of service to River Valley Co-ops internal and external customers and will be responsible for building creating and maintaining a friendly welcoming and beautiful atmosphere within our Co-op locations.

Responsibilities

• Help develop and maintain ingredient product and packaging order systems/schedules including taking inventory and tracking when we sell out of a product during the day.
• Actively participate in weekly meetings with department management the Director of Food Services and the Category Assistant Manager - Perishables and follow through on all directions and assigned tasks.
• Maintain positive responsive and frequent communication with Buyer(s) Director of Food Services and Category Managers at other locations to harness whole-co-op buying power to reduce out-of-stocks shrinkage and excess inventory.
• Run sales reports and establish par levels with the Prepared Foods Kitchen Manager and Prepared Foods Manager to ensure uninterrupted supply and product levels align with weekly sales.
• Order products and supplies to maintain product levels appropriate for weekly sales levels and inventory turn targets and that minimize out-of-stock and shrinkage.
• Works with the Director of Food Services and Category Assistant Manager - Perishables to ensure compliance with vendor and product selection timely invoice data entry reporting cost changes and implementing retail-pricing updates as directed.
• Communicate with vendors to plan for promotions samples and demos.
• Collaborate with the produce department managers and the Director of Food Services on fresh produce purchases prioritizing local producers in collaboration with the Category Assistant Manager - Perishables.
• In partnership with the Sustainability & Project Manager order packaging from approved sources on the ordering guide and create the par levels of packaging needed.
• Receive and check in orders including inspecting for quality date marking boxes and rotating stock.
• Notify Prepared Foods management of any short-dated product and assist in fast tracking through price reduction options to minimize waste/loss.
• Enter invoice cost information daily into the recipe costing system and the Point of Sale system.
• Pursue credits with vendors for mispicks missing damaged and poor-quality products in partnership with the Category Assistant Manager - Perishables.
• Process approved invoices and update the receiving log.
• Receive organize and maintain all storage areas to ensure FIFO (First In First Out) rotation clear labeling safety and cleanliness.
• Ensure work areas and equipment are kept clean tidy sanitary safe and in good working order.
• Create and maintain sales floor signs using approved templates for promotions holidays and product identification.
• Ensure that all product signs have accurate ingredients and comply with state and federal regulations.
• Participate in inventory including preparing counting sheets with accurate costs accurate unit descriptions counting and entering data to deliver to Finance within seven days of the count.
• Participate in the assigned master cleaning list tasks.
• Record Shrink and maintain monthly sheets with up-to-date costs/retail.
• Analyze and report on Shrink weekly to the Prepared Foods Manager including strategizing purchasing to maintain acceptable shrink levels.
• Provide excellent customer service.
• Participate in planning and implementing special events.

ALL STAFF DUTIES

• Attend and participate in department and storewide meetings.
• Fill in with other department tasks as needed.
• Work in a safe and sanitary environment.
• Perform other tasks assigned by the Prepared Foods Manager.

ESSENTIAL

• Ability to use computers and applicable software and programs including recipe-costing software Microsoft and Google Suites.
• Experience in ordering products and the natural foods industry.
• Experience negotiating with suppliers.
• Proven ability to work in a consistent and focused manner.
• Ability to follow through on systems procedures and policies.
• Ability to work efficiently and safely in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to be flexible and to adapt to changing conditions quickly.
• Ability to manage time with consistent weekly deadlines for reporting and other time-sensitive assignments.
• Ability to write reports business correspondence and procedure manuals.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks simultaneously while working within a deadline.
• Perform duties following safety procedures and promote a safe working environment.
• Flexible - willingness to be open to learn and to take on new responsibilities.
• Demonstrate objectivity neutrality and calm.
• Demonstrate accuracy and thoroughness.
• Demonstrated ability to work with customers and co-workers from various cultural backgrounds.
• The ability to work productively and independently.
• Regular and predictable attendance.

FUNCTIONAL

• Ability to exert well-paced mobility for up to 8 hours including standing walking bending and squatting.
• May be required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds frequently and up to 75 pounds occasionally.
• The ability to work in a cold environment.
• The ability to work in a wet/damp environment.
• The ability to stand for extended periods.
• Repetitive use of hands for grasping pushing pulling and fine manipulation.
• Ability to safely operate a powered industrial truck upon completion of certification training.

PREFERRED

• 3 years of successful experience with buying/purchasing natural and organic foods.
• Natural and local foods (retail wholesale).
• The ability to speak Spanish French or Swahili is a plus.

River Valley Co-op is an equal opportunity employer encouraging excellence through diversity.