Associate Buyer

Associate Buyer

Job Category : Purchasing

Requisition Number : ASSOC
003073

Posted : December 11, 2025

Full-Time

Hybrid

Emeryville, CA 94608, USA

Our Mission :
Touching lives for the better

Our Vision : Touching lives by being the first choice for bargain-minded consumers in the U.S.

Our Values & Behaviors :
Achievement, Diversity, Entrepreneurship, Family, Fun, Integrity & Service

Our Purchasing team's mission is to provide bargain-minded customers with the deepest discounts on quality and branded products. In many ways our team is the heart of the organization- building and maintaining vendor relationships and providing solutions for our supplier partners and independent operators. Our buyers are empowered with speed, flexibility, and freedom while their passion and creativity embody the art of closeout buying.

Successful members of our team are motivated to exceed annual comp sales, thrive in a collaborative environment, have an entrepreneurial spirit, and be motivated by relationship building.

As the Associate Buyer you will assist the Frozen Purchasing team. A huge part of the role is day-to-day maintenance functions, data analysis and accurate data entry. You will ensure accuracy in the ordering process while facilitating communications between vendors, corresponding buyers, merchandisers and our stores. The Associate Buyer will report to the Buyer in Frozen Purchasing.

• Support Buyers on day-to-day functions of the department including writing Purchase Orders, answering internal store issues, rectifying invoice discrepancies and track and support Ad functions.
• Monitors on-order and manages weekly receipt flow into DC to ensure timely arrival of orders.
• Develop new relationships as well as foster existing relationships to drive the success of assigned commodities.
• Maintain vendor relationships; work with vendors and Buyer to help negotiate better terms and / or costs for merchandise being purchased.
• Establishes and maintains a reputation of credibility and responsiveness; promptly returns vendor and store phone calls, ensures timely follow-up on issues within 24 hours.
• Maintains positive working relationships and communication with vendors, internal departments, stores and warehouse.
• Responsible for category management for multiple classes and sub-classes within the department.
• Responsible for direct store shipments Flex order Guide.
• Responsible for understanding and implementing data related to assigned commodities.
• Identify, create and maintain everyday items within assigned classes and sub-classes.
• Understand and execute appropriate distribution of products and maintain proper turn goal.
• Find, create and present weekly Hot Buys to the stores virtually and in-person meetings.
• Ensure that communication (written / verbal) is complete and thorough with vendor and internal partners.
• Analyze opportunistic opportunities and communicate to the department and store recommendations.
• Identify and shop competition (including price checks); understand the target customer.
• Identify trends within the department to help reach and exceed sales and margin plan.
• Review sales by store by SKU; identifying hot and slow sellers.

• Base Salary Range : $70,000 - $80,000
• Annual Bonus Program.
• Equity.
• 401(k) Profit Sharing
• Medical, Dental, Vision & More!
• Final compensation will be determined based upon experience and skills and may vary based on location.

• A. Degree or 3 to 5 years retail / sales or related experience and / or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, outgoing, willing to help others and positive attitude.
• Proficient in the use of Excel, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• You are keen to detail, highly organized and can reprioritize projects frequently.
• Resourceful and researches problems with recommended solutions.
• You are highly analytical and numerical savvy.
• Strong written & oral communication skills.
• Industry awareness or interest with the ability to understand and research current trends, within competition and market.
• Thrive in a fast-paced evolving environment.
• Team player, self-motivated, independent-thinker.
• Able to effectively and respectfully communicate with all levels of staff and management.