Return to Vendor Specialist

Job Details

Job Summary:

The Return to Vendor Specialist manages the return-to-vendor process for damaged, defective, incorrect, excess, and otherwise eligible merchandise. This position inspects products, determines appropriate disposition, obtains and tracks vendor return authorizations, prepares required documentation, coordinates product movement and shipment, monitors vendor credits and claims, and maintains accurate inventory and return records. The role works closely with purchasing, sales, yard, warehouse, delivery, accounts payable, vendors, and management to resolve product issues, protect inventory accuracy, recover vendor credits, and support efficient store operations.

$25.00 - $30.00 per hour.

Mead Lumber Company is a leading provider of products for professional contractors, builders, and remodelers. With 50+ operating locations across nine Midwestern states, we are proud to be 100% employee-owned and ranked as the 12th largest building material supplier to professional builders in the U.S. At Mead Lumber, we strive to create a team that works and succeeds together every day in an authentic, team-oriented setting.

• Employee Ownership:
  As a 100% employee-owned company, you will have a stake in our shared success.
• Work-Life Balance:
  Enjoy flexible scheduling options that support your lifestyle.
• Career Growth:
  We are committed to your professional development, providing ongoing learning and advancement opportunities.

• Manage return-to-vendor activity from identification through final disposition, including damaged, defective, incorrect, excess, special-order, and other eligible merchandise.
• Obtain and track vendor return authorizations, return instructions, claim numbers, freight arrangements, and other required approvals or documentation.
• Communicate professionally with vendors, purchasing, sales, and management to resolve return questions, disputed claims, high-value items, policy exceptions, and outstanding credits.

• Inspect lumber, building materials, hardware, tools, and related products for condition, completeness, damage, defects, contamination, and return eligibility.
• Determine whether merchandise should be returned to stock, discounted, held for vendor return, placed in a designated damaged-goods area, or disposed of according to company procedures and vendor requirements.
• Identify concealed damage, missing components, special-order items, non-returnable products, and vendor-specific return requirements, and document findings clearly.
• Coordinate with yard, warehouse, delivery, sales, and purchasing teams to label, stage, move, consolidate, or prepare return merchandise for pickup or shipment while preventing inventory loss or misplacement.

• Maintain accurate records of vendor return, return authorizations, claims, credits, inventory adjustments, damaged merchandise, freight issues, and product disposition.
• Complete inventory, order-entry, point-of-sale, and other system transactions promptly and accurately, including required notes, reason codes, quantities, and supporting documentation.
• Prepare and maintain freight-damage documentation, photographs, packing information, bills of landing, claim support, and other vendor-required return documentation.
• Track outstanding vendor returns and credits through completion; reconcile physical product disposition with system records and report discrepancies or aging items to management.
• Identify recurring product quality, freight damage, vendor performance, or return-process issues and communicate trends to purchasing and management.

• Maintain clean, organized, and secure vendor-return and damaged-product areas with merchandise clearly identified and separated by disposition status.
• Assist with customer-return intake, product verification, and disposition questions as needed, and ensure merchandise approved for resale is returned to the proper bin, rack, showroom, or yard location.
• Operate forklifts and other material-handling equipment only when trained, certified, and authorized, and complete required pre-use inspections.
• Follow all company safety policies, personal protective equipment requirements, lifting practices, traffic controls, and housekeeping standards while working in the store, warehouse, and lumber yard.
• Support customer service, stocking, inventory counts, yard operations, receiving, and other store functions as needed during busy periods.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support business and operational needs.

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Previous experience in customer service, retail, receiving, purchasing, warehouse, yard, construction supply, or lumber and building materials preferred.
• Experience using point-of-sale, order-entry, purchasing, receiving, or…