Merchandising Buyer

Location:

Cedar Falls, IA

Base Pay

Employee Type: FT Non-Exempt

Organization:
Martin Bros. Distributing Co. Inc.

Department:
Merchandising

Job Posted:

Job Post Expires:

This position manages other employees.

This position requires % travel.

The Merchandising Buyers are responsible for regular daily buying replenishment to meet service level goals as well as inventory turns. Buyers work closely with our Vendor Partners and our Category Marketing Managers to make sure we have the right products, at the right price for our customers. They are responsible for maintaining assigned vendors in our buying program to provide the best service and growth for Martin Bros, our customers, and our vendors.

Responsible for daily replenishment buying of assigned vendors.

• Timely processing purchase orders
• Uses and understands Clarity and it functions.
• Maintain expected service levels and inventory levels.
• Confirmation of purchase orders and pricing, fixes discrepancies
• Performs all inventory replenishment.
• Expedites all inventory based on out-of-stock status, including expediting late trucks.
• Updates base cost and freight costs on items/lines increases/decreases.
• Reports damaged product issues and claims.
• Emails/Faxes all freight sheets to appropriate parties.
• Follows up on freight claims and issues.

Oversee data integrity to be accurate and consistent.

• Maintain and update current and new item set up for accuracy.
• Responsible for new item maintenance in AS400 and HQ
• Accurate GTIN’s, IFDA and commodity codes
• Additional descriptions and images are kept up to date in AS/400 and HQ.
• Maintain vendor involvement and support.
• Responsible for continued HQ item and vendor maintenance as fields evolve.
• Backhaul points and break-item maintenance.

Responsible for Item, Vendor and Clarity maintenance.

• Regular review of current and new item forecasting and profiling for seasonality
• Perform demand exceptions and order cycle optimization of vendors.
• Identify, communicate, and eliminate closeout items/consolidations.
• Daily service communication on service issues to the sales staff
• Complete vendor price changes and market pricing to maximize profitability.
• Performs all Clarity maintenance:
  New vendors, new and lost customer business.

Inventory Management

• Handles all special orders and completes special orders one month and older reports.
• Interacts with sales representatives and their calls (primarily those related to existing items, PO arrival times, add-on’s, etc.)
• Works with and notifies category manager or broker of slow-moving items and category duplications.
• Orders samples as needed.
• Maintains inventory levels/turns.
• Maintains service levels.
• Daily, weekly, and monthly monitors all assigned reports.

Associates degree or equivalent from two-year college or technical school or six months to one-year related experience and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Ability to be resourceful in food service arena.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.
• Ability to use PC’s, especially experience with the software of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to type with a speed of 40 w.p.m. for data entry into AS/400.
• Ability to organize and prioritize tasks.
• Ability to problem solve and provide solutions.
• Ability to communicate on the phone and in person through strong verbal skills with customers, vendors, and sales staff.
• Ability to be Customer Service oriented – committed to achieving customer’s expectations.
• Ability to work within time frames.
• Analytical skills to perform tasks of inventory levels, fill rates and minimize shrink.
• Merchandising skills – Ability to interpret from data and conversations what customer’s needs and expectations are.
• Prioritize and delegate time effectively between re-order functions and merchandising functions.