Assistant Buyer, Kitchen

The Kroger Co. • Portland, OR

3d

About The Position

The Assistant Buyer, Kitchen works directly with the buyer to execute day-to-day category management activities. The role collaborates on assortment selection, promotional and advertising plans, and the category’s overall vision to achieve sales, inventory, and margin budgets. It oversees a subset of the buyer’s categories, locates and selects assortments for the enterprise, and manages vendor relationships to maximize sales and margins while minimizing costs. The position also requires travel for vendor visits and negotiations and must be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

The role supports the company’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety. It is part of Kroger, which describes its purpose as feeding the human spirit and emphasizes customer, community, and associate experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, or two years of retail store managerial experience, or a combination of relevant education and experience.
• Strong accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks and projects.
• Ability to function in a fast-paced retail/office environment.
• Familiarity with retail industry technical terms and processes.
• Proficient Microsoft Office skills.
• Completed development plans for both assistant buyer and assistant planner.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Magic.
• Retail store managerial experience.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the buyer to execute sales, inventory, and margin plans.
• Assist the buyer in executing the category’s overall vision, including assortment, pricing, merchandising, advertising and promotions, receipt flow, and margin.
• Complete detailed analysis to determine enterprise assortment selections and changes.
• Gather vendor product information and costs for assortment selection.
• Oversee item setup processes and review and confirm details before submission.
• Assist the buyer and corporate pricing analyst with enterprise competitive price checks and maintain the pricing strategy database.
• Determine POS and TPR pricing, clearance, and markdown needs, and partner with the buyer/planner to execute them.
• Manage the category’s advertising and promotional process using line lists, ASA, ESP, display plans, and related materials.
• Coordinate with vendors to obtain merchandise samples for review, e-commerce, and advertising.
• Evaluate salvaged merchandise and make vendor return decisions.
• Process approved Form 11 vendor allowances.
• Confirm trade points and contracts with administrative support personnel before they are created.
• Manage purchase orders and receiving through the on-order log; follow up with vendors and communicate concerns to the buyer, planner, replenishment buyer, and assistant planner.
• Research receiving problems and find solutions with warehouses and/or logistics.
• Assist the buyer with additional special projects.
• Travel for vendor visits and negotiations.
• Oversee a subset of the buyer’s total categories.
• Locate and select assortments for the enterprise and manage vendor relationships to maximize sales and margins and minimize costs for the assigned category.
• Perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Benefits

• Healthcare coverage, including medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage, through company or collective bargaining agreement plans.
• Flexible scheduling in full- and part-time roles.
• Paid time off, including holiday and sick pay, based on eligibility and length of service.
• Free counseling through the Employee Assistance Program.
• Free, confidential financial tools and coaching through Goldman Sachs Ayco.
• Associate discounts on food, travel, technology, and other purchases.
• Up to $21,000 in tuition reimbursement over the course of a career through the Continuing Education program.
• Access to training programs and career pathways.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level