Product Category Specialist

Wismettac Asian Foods•Santa Fe Springs, CA

23h

About The Position

The Product Category Specialist is responsible for coordinating, developing, and evaluating product lines for the Product Management Department (PMD). The Product Category Specialist will be accountable for the purchasing of food products and supplies as needed for the Company. This position will report to the Manager and will have daily contact with Sales personnel, Managers, Branch Managers, Manufacturers, and Vendors. The Product Category Specialist will be responsible for purchases/ expediting of products, and inventory, supporting negotiations of contracts, and ensuring compliance with government regulations.

Requirements

Daily contact with Sales personnel, Managers, Branch Managers, Manufacturers, and Vendors.
Responsible for purchases/ expediting of products, and inventory.
Supporting negotiations of contracts.
Ensuring compliance with government regulations.
Procuring products, components, and services required for production following established policies and controls and accepted Wismettac practices.
Developing product pricing structure using current cost estimates, margin, and commission guidelines.
Developing private brand products.
Reviewing pricing strategies.
Performing periodic margin analysis.
Utilizing market information and performing necessary analysis to make recommendations.
Identifying and selecting vendors meeting criteria such as price, quantity, quality, and contract administration.
Analyzing price proposals, financial reports, and other data to determine reasonable prices and terms.
Monitoring and following applicable laws and regulations.
Gathering data, monitoring, and forecasting marketing and sales trends.
Sales shadowing with sales employees.
Responsible for the Company’s figures (i.e. sales and gross profit) depending on assigned categories.
Preparing and submitting reports to department managers, branch managers, and Wismettac affiliates.
Monitoring shipments to ensure timely delivery and resolving issues with undelivered goods.
Writing and distributing complex and technical bids or requests for proposals.
Receiving and analyzing bids, quotes, and proposals.
Awarding contracts based on the company approval process.
Tracking purchases, monitoring vendor quality, and maintaining a current database of vendor information.
Managing the Product Category Assistant/ office clerk on schedules and assignments.
Evaluating and analyzing purchasing and price trends to identify forecasting demand and minimize purchasing costs.

Nice To Haves

Japanese / English bilingual preferred

Responsibilities

Responsible for procuring products, components, and services required for production following established policies and controls and accepted Wismettac practices.
Develop product pricing structure with Product Category Assistant Manager/ Manager using current cost estimates, margin, and commission guidelines provided by management.
Responsible for the development of private brand products for the Company.
Review pricing strategies to ensure company profitability and competition in the marketplace.
Perform periodic margin analysis.
Utilize market information and perform necessary analysis to make recommendations to the manager to adjust product offerings based on products and programs found in the marketplace.
Identifies and selects vendors to procure Wismettac commodities, meeting criteria such as price (negotiate, renegotiate), quantity, quality, and contract administration.
Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices and accept terms on behalf of the company.
Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
Gather data, monitor, and forecast on marketing and sales trends on customers, competitors, and market conditions by going out on sales shadowing with sales employees and responsible for the Company’s figures (i.e. sales and gross profit) depending on assigned categories.
Prepare reports and submit them to department managers, branch managers, and Wismettac affiliates including but not limited to Japan and China.
Identifies and selects vendors to procure Wismettac commodities, meeting criteria such as price (negotiate, renegotiate), quantity, quality, and contract administration.
Monitor shipments to ensure that goods come in on time and resolve problems related to undelivered goods.
Writes and distributes complex and technical bids or requests for proposals; receives and analyzes bids, quotes, and proposals, and awards the contract based on the company approval process.
Responsible for tracking purchases, monitoring vendor quality, and maintaining a current database of vendor information.
The Product Category Specialist will serve as one of the most skilled employees and is usually tasked to help manage the Product Category Assistant/ office clerk on schedules and assignments.
Evaluates and analyzes purchasing trend and price trend to identify forecasting demand and minimize purchasing costs.
Other duties assigned by PMD management.