Associate Buyer, Kitchen

The Kroger Co. • Portland, OR

3d

About The Position

The Associate Buyer develops and attains budgeted sales, gross margin, and market share for a single category. The role locates and selects assortments for the enterprise and manages vendor relationships to maximize sales and margin while minimizing cost. The Associate Buyer is expected to demonstrate Kroger’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety.

The role develops category and sales plans, tracks sales and promotional performance, sources products, implements pricing strategy, manages enterprise vendor relationships, and partners with planners on financial plans. It also contributes to advertising, floor planning, planograms, and responses to store and division inquiries. The position operates in a fast-paced retail office environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least 2 years of combined assistant buyer and assistant planner experience, or a combination of relevant education and experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Experience or capability appropriate to a single category with lower complexity than a buyer’s category in item difficulty, promotional intensity, regionality, category innovation, vendor difficulty, sales, and growth goals.
• Highly motivated and self-directed.
• Ability to function in a fast-paced retail office environment.
• Ability to organize and prioritize tasks and projects.
• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Familiarity with industry and technical terms and processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and communicate corporate strategy for new releases.
• Monitor current sales trends and assess their impact on business needs.
• Create the category business plan.
• Create sales, display, and advertising plans.
• Maintain division-specific Enterprise Sales Planning (ESP).
• Review sales, profit, and promotional performance by division.
• Source and select new products.
• Implement corporate pricing strategy to maintain competitiveness while maximizing sales and profit potential.
• Manage enterprise vendor relationships, including negotiating vendor allowances and payment terms and managing in-stocks and orders as needed.
• Develop enterprise-specific selling programs for the category.
• Partner with the planner on financial planning, vendor financial plans, and strategies.
• Participate in floor planning and the planogram process.
• Maintain awareness of industry trends, the competitive landscape across the enterprise, and regional needs.
• Develop advertising campaigns and select merchandise to advertise.
• Research and assist with resolutions for store and division inquiries.
• Perform the essential job functions 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 purchases, including food, travel, and technology.
• Up to $21,000 in tuition reimbursement over the course of a career through the Continuing Education program.
• Training programs and diverse career pathways.

What This Job Offers

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