Associate Buyer

Job Summary

The Associate Buyer works with the Grocery, Own Brand team to support the procurement and delivery of private label products to retail partners. The role acts as a liaison between key business partners and the Own Brand team, ensuring proper and timely procurement and delivery of products.

• Organize and collaborate with other departments to achieve company and divisional goals, and develop strong working relationships with internal replenishment and procurement teams.
• Establish and maintain relationships with vendors, troubleshoot detention charges, logistic challenges and supply chain management, and coordinate logistics reviews between Wakefern and vendors.
• Act as a liaison between OB and corporate Logistics to ensure supplier slotting and PO completion for OB vendors, and manage supplier escalations.
• Run and analyze reports to support the OB Product team, maintaining comfort with data and analytics.
• Manage supplier onboarding tasks, including completion of design briefs, specs, supplier collaboration and training, and collection of item specs, new and discontinued item lists and dimensions.
• Manage data for packaging transitions for category launches and transitions to support category managers in on-time launches with minimal financial liability.
• Set up new and/or transitioned SKUs, understanding item details and collaborating with suppliers to enter new products in the system.
• Manage and execute the RFP process via the sourcing system.
• Update warehouse inventory: monitor the timely and accurate delivery of Own Brand products to Wakefern, maintaining a department service level of 98% or higher.
• Assist the Category Manager in the category deep dive process, including managing competitive store visits, product analysis, workshop shopping, CDT creation, and workshop set‑up.
• Organize and run meetings with Category Managers to communicate status updates regarding supplier and item set‑up, packaging transitions, financial liabilities, and delivery deadlines.
• Navigate sales and loyalty data, create presentation materials, and support the vendor management process.
• Lead procurement projects covering purchasing, contracting, sourcing, and commodity management.

• Bachelor’s degree, or currently enrolled college student with 60+ credit hours.
• 3–5 years’ experience in logistics, category management, or a similar function.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, and common logistics applications (CGO, LINK, Micro Strategy, QMF, RAPID, WMS).
• Strong interpersonal and analytical skills; ability to multitask, manage time effectively, and supervise a small team.
• Self‑starter with demonstrated problem‑solving ability.
• High attention to detail.
• Exceptional relationship‑building and superior verbal and written communication skills.

Base pay is $70,000–$95,000 per year. The weekly salary range for this position is $1,251–$1,987, depending on experience, skills, education, geography, and budget considerations.

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage; life and disability insurance; a 401(k) retirement plan with company match; paid time off, holidays, and parental leave; wellness and family support programs; fitness reimbursement; and educational and training opportunities through our corporate university.

Associate

Full‑time

Product Management, Purchasing, and Supply Chain – Retail