Assistant Buyer - Beer & Wine

Grocery Outlet Career•Emeryville, CA

About The Position

The primary responsibility of an Assistant Buyer is to provide the support required to purchase product with a focus on accurate and efficient data entry, on-time inbound logistics, and superior customer service. This role provides assistance to the buying team and ensures accuracy in the ordering process while facilitating communications between vendors and corresponding buyers. This role reports to a Buyer on the Beer & Wine team.

Requirements

Data entry experience.
Proficient in the use of Excel, Microsoft Word and Outlook.
Ability to prioritize and multitask.
Keen to details and highly organized.
Strong written & verbal communication skills.
Able to effectively and respectfully communicate with all levels of staff and management.
Excellent interpersonal skills, willing to learn and shows positive attitude towards change.
Proven team player, self-motivated, independent thinker.

Nice To Haves

Experience with SAP systems preferred.

Responsibilities

Support Buyers on all day-to-day functions of the department.
Assist Buyers in writing purchase orders and monitoring production timelines, fulfilment accuracy, as well as shipping and receiving of shipments.
Monitor future purchase orders and manage weekly receipt flow into the 4 different distribution centers, to insure timely arrival of orders.
Responsible for initiating recalls when needed, reduction of prices after approval and work closely with accounts payable if cost discrepancies arise.
Responsible for Direct-to-Store Delivery (DSD) vendor-store-item linkages and maintenance of the Flexible Order Guides (FOG’s) especially changes in costs, retails, values, effective dates.
Track and maintain monthly promotional ad plan.
Work closely with the inventory planning team to support buyer forecasting and managing of imports.
Ensure that communication (written/verbal) is complete and thorough with vendor and internal partners.
Maintain positive working relationships and communication with vendors, internal departments, stores and warehouses.
Assists Buyers in analyzing the suggested reorders of product and looks for opportunities to improve efficiencies.
Responsible to communicate directly with vendors as issues come up with exciting POs.
Review sales by store by SKU; identifying hot and slow sellers.
Maintain vendor relationships; work with vendors and Buyer to help negotiate better terms and/or costs for merchandise being purchased.
Establish and maintain a reputation of credibility and responsiveness; promptly returns vendor and store phone calls, ensures timely follow-up on issues within 24 hours.
Assists in marketing event planning and promotional execution.
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.