JOB TITLE:  Produce Buyer

LOCATION:  Los Angeles Area, CA

Job #:  7899


Position Summary:  Works with vendors to negotiate prices, delivery terms, and any available promotional allowances.  Ensures timely shipments, coordinating with warehouse inventory control and shipping.  Selects vendors based on quality, pricing and availability.  Builds partnerships between sales representatives, brokers, vendors, and retailers in the purchasing and sale of Produce Division products.  Works closely with vendors to identify sales opportunities, negotiate prices and delivery terms, and market products directly to retailers or through sales representatives.  Monitors inventory levels, reorders at optimum time and price, develops promotional programs, and works closely with sales representatives to maximize sales.  Keeps Produce Division management and sales representatives informed of market conditions.  Works closely with major produce suppliers and brokers to identify buying and promotional opportunities.  Closely monitors produce forecasts, market trends, and suppliers to determine future prices and availability of assigned product lines. 
 

Assumes a full range of sales responsibilities, including:

• Works closely with members, retailers, brokers, and sales representatives to monitor retail marketplace.  Identifies sales and promotional opportunities along with competitor promotional and pricing strategies.

• Based on knowledge of product availability, pricing, and promotional and accrual funds, develops promotional programs to maximize sales levels.  Introduces programs to sales staff and works closely with sales representatives to maximize sales.

• Works closely with members and retailers to locate needed products, negotiates purchase prices and delivery terms, and expedites delivery of product to meet sales opportunities.

• Will be assigned as key account sales representative to major member/retailer.  Provides a full range of purchasing and sales services to assure that customer maximizes sales levels.

• Drafts bulletin announcements to be mailed to the membership and assists members and vendors requesting appropriate buying information.

Education:  Position requires two to three years of college or equivalent work experience.

Experience:  Position must have three to four years of retail or wholesale purchasing and sales experience including at least four years as a produce buyer and two years in produce sales.

Knowledge:  Position requires demonstrated in-depth knowledge of produce industry including products, vendors, market pricing factors, and quality indicators.  Requires a knowledge of the Produce Division’s operations, policies and procedures would be beneficial.

Skills & Abilities:  Demonstrated ability to develop sales opportunities, follow through with sales representatives, and optimize sales and profit margins.  Demonstrated ability to apply knowledge of produce industry in the forecasting of product prices and the effective future buying of seasonal products.  Demonstrated ability to work independently without direct supervision.  Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with all levels of management, sales representatives, and retailers.
 

Please forward resume along with salary considerations in confidence to: