Associate Buyer

Associate Buyer – Procurement Operations

The Associate Buyer is responsible for supporting the timely procurement of the highest quality raw materials and operational goods/services required for the manufacture, distribution and sale of Lucchese product. This role is designed to build foundational procurement and category management capabilities through hands-on execution, cross-functional exposure and progressive responsibility within the Sourcing & Procurement organization.

Purpose and Impact:
This role supports the operational and production goals of the company by ensuring cost-effective, timely, and high-quality procurement for our manufacturing needs while developing core procurement capabilities and supporting consistent execution across categories.

Key Stakeholder Interaction:
Collaborates with production, warehouse, quality assurance, operations and finance teams to forecast needs and resolve procurement-related issues

KPIs:
Procurement execution accuracy, ERP data integrity, order cycle time, reduction in discrepancies, support of supplier on-time delivery / quality performance and others as assigned

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Support procurement activities of raw materials and operational goods/services for manufacturing, DC and retail operations
• Assist in supplier communications to confirm orders, track deliveries and resolve routine issues
• Partner with buyers and leadership to support pricing, terms and supplier coordination efforts
• Support vendor relationship management activities including communication, follow-up and issue resolution
• Assist in evaluating vendor performance through data collection, reporting and analysis
• Process purchase orders, maintain records, and track order status to ensure accurate and on time deliveries
• Resolve issues related to order discrepancies, delays, or quality concerns
• Support inventory management efforts through cross-functional partnership and data collection
• Uphold Lucchese Bootmaker's core values and policies
• Complete other duties as assigned by your leader

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams
• Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment
• Analytical mindset with the ability to organize, interpret, and work with data
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to track and follow through on multiple priorities
• Ability to learn new systems, processes, and concepts quickly
• Proactive approach to problem-solving with the ability to identify issues and escalate as needed
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel
• Interest in supply chain, procurement, or operations, with a willingness to learn and develop in the field

Preferred Education, Experience, and/or

Certifications:

• Bachelor's degree in related field or relevant to the experience
• Early career experience or internship exposure in supply chain, procurement, operations or related field
• Experience supporting or collaborating within cross-functional teams
• CPIM (Certified Purchasing Inventory Management) or CSP (Certified Supply Chain Management) Certified desired but not a requirement

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Standing and walking production floor for long periods of time
• Must be able to lift up-to 30 pounds at times
• Must be able to hear, and listen, to effectively communicate
• Travel required up to 20% of the time