Buyer

1-800-FLOWERS.COM, INC.•Westerville, OH

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Buyer manages day-to-day purchasing activities supporting Cheryl’s Cookies operations, including placing purchase orders, confirming orders, and verifying that materials arrive on schedule. The role supports purchasing across direct and indirect spend categories in a multi-channel retail business and works closely with Operations, Merchandising, and other internal teams. The Buyer is responsible for sourcing and securing materials and components that meet company expectations for price, delivery, and quality. The role includes supplier selection and relationship management, sourcing new materials, negotiating costs and supply agreements, monitoring market trends, managing inventory and material flow, supporting profitability, and maintaining accurate, cost-controlled Bills of Materials (BOMs). This position also provides market trends and sourcing insights to internal teams and supports gift and food development by identifying suitable materials, components, and suppliers. The work schedule is generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, with four days in the office and one day remote each week. Additional hours may be required during peak business seasons, and travel may be required as needed.

Requirements

At least five years of experience in a procurement or supply chain position; the posting also specifies at least five years in procurement, planning, strategic sourcing, or supply chain management.
Proficiency with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
Demonstrated knowledge of manufacturing requirements, including the ability to assess supplier capabilities.
Proficient computer skills, including strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
Strong verbal and written communication, negotiation, and analytical skills.
Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and organizational levels.
Ability to prioritize, organize, and manage multiple responsibilities in a flexible, fast-paced, challenging environment while meeting deadlines.
Team-oriented mindset, positive attitude, and ability to influence and work effectively with others.
Self-directed and able to work independently while maintaining cross-functional relationships.
Comfort interacting regularly with senior management in a highly visible position.

Nice To Haves

Background in Business Administration, Management, Operations, Materials Management, or Supply Chain Management, or equivalent experience performing similar responsibilities.
Previous experience with food ingredients or within the food industry.
Experience with Oracle and/or SAP.

Responsibilities

Manage inventory flow according to projections and established production schedules.
Manage and control external suppliers for direct and/or indirect spend categories supporting operations.
Ensure goods are purchased at competitive prices and delivered on time to meet production requirements.
Monitor material costs and control spending, usage, and inventory levels to meet company targets.
Analyze purchasing reports with internal teams to identify reorders, cancellations, and leftover or overstock inventory.
Analyze leftover and overstock inventory during weekly pegging meetings.
Maintain responsibility for material flow, inventory levels, on-time shipments, and cost-controlled Bills of Materials (BOMs).
Manage departmental expenses within areas of responsibility in alignment with established budgets.
Establish and maintain effective relationships with key suppliers aligned with business needs.
Identify and evaluate new suppliers with internal teams and obtain appropriate approvals.
Negotiate supplier pricing, payment terms, and supply agreements, including potential long-term contracts.
Create and respond to RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs, and identify new sourcing opportunities and vendors.
Develop and execute purchasing and sourcing strategies for direct and/or indirect spend categories.
Improve purchasing methods and identify opportunities to reduce external spending.
Optimize material costs through vendor analysis, benchmarking, periodic RFPs, and evaluation of quality, scheduling, cost, and supplier performance.
Apply cost-effective purchasing measures to support standard costing and make-or-buy decisions.
Assess supplier capabilities against manufacturing, quality, and delivery requirements.
Build and maintain working relationships with Merchandising, Food and Gift Production, Warehouse, Finance, and other internal departments.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams on purchasing decisions, sourcing strategies, and operational requirements.
Provide Merchandising teams with market trends, product samples, and sourcing insights for gift development.
Review media sources, retail channels, and online resources; distribute or order samples as appropriate.
Organize, maintain, and update vendor catalogs in the development area for Merchandising teams.
Assist with gift and food development by identifying suitable materials, components, and suppliers.
Support company profitability through supplier negotiations, inventory management, cost control, and purchasing decisions.