What are the responsibilities and job description for the Buyer position at A.F. Wendling, Inc.?
Reports To: Director of Merchandising
SUMMARY/PURPOSE: Purchase food and non-food products for resale with the primary goal of achieving the "Perfect Order" as is measure by service level, turns, and overall management for the lines of responsibility. Optimizes profitability through effective negotiating of rebates and pricing.
KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
-Identify & select suppliers within company guidelines, negotiate proper terms, purchase appropriate items, and maintain continuity of supply meeting inventory days-on-hand goals.
-Purchases products from suppliers at the lowest possible cost consistent with considerations for quality, reliability of source, and urgency of need.
-Responsible for maintaining adequate supplies of inventory to meet customer service level expectations while minimizing inventory losses due to spoilage or obsolete products.
-Daily review of product movement forecasts based on seasonality, market trends, and anticipated sales
-Maintain turns per year at the best possible price for the best possible product
-Verify pricing via matching purchase orders to confirmations, Verify quantity/ quality of stock received from manufacturer
-Request refunds from vendors to compensate for losses incurred for "dumped or damaged"
products; discontinue and return products to manufacturers that fail to sell
.-Maintain a 99.2% or higher service level to our customers. Expedite delivery of product by communicating with buyers, vendors, transportation, & receiving. Verify inventory status and delivery schedules. Source & maintain freight rates while successfully resolving problems with delivery, supply, invoicing, rejections, etc.
-Work with multiple departments including sales, customer service, marketing, receiving, accounting, and vendors. Assist sales force with questions concerning products specs and changes to product lines. Monitor and communicate market conditions and trends to other departments as changes necessitate. Insure current product literature is available for reps.
-Work with other department buyers to insure purchasing is maintained. Provide bid personnel with product information, pricing, availability, and vendor information.
--Manage product lines through inventory turns, slow moving reports and other tools to minimize dead stock. Insure product quality by keeping existing inventory within proper expiration codes. Create e-mails or other communication to move dead/slow moving product.
-Negotiate major deals and look for opportunities to buy in profitably within budget; Recommend contract terms & conditions where applicable. -Other responsibilities that may be dictated by the needs of the business
KEY QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & CAPABILITIES
Education:/Training: High school diploma; Associate's degree, or related training preferred
Experience: Minimum 3 years purchasing experience, inventory management experience preferred
Knowledge/Skills: Thorough understanding of purchasing concepts. Ability to handle multiple, high volume lines. Strong negotiating skill, tact, tenacity & persistence to deal effectively with suppliers. Extensive product knowledge & sources of supply. Proficient with software including Excel, Word, as well as inventory and order management systems. Basic PC knowledge and understanding is required. Proven analytical skills to effectively use reports and information to make sound decisions.
We are A.F. Wendling Foodservice
West Virginia's Largest Family-Owned Food Service Distributor
Since 1913
OUR VALUES
We help feed your success because we value strong, lasting partnerships
We value a personal approach to doing business, because every customer has unique needs.
We value the unique ideas of our employees and customers that help drive us to grow and innovate.
We understand the value of family, and care for our customers and employees like they're one of our own.
We value the personal and professional growth of our employees and provide them with the tools to succeed.
OUR MISSION
We go the extra mile to feed your success
A.F. Wendling Foodservice is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis protected under appropriate law. We respect and seek to empower each individual and support the diverse cultures, perspectives, skills and experiences within our workforce.