OTHER

FEED

UNKNOWN

5–8 years of progressive experience in produce buying, merchandising, or produce operations, including full-line buying responsibility with broad experience procuring across all primary produce commodities (fruits, vegetables, value-added, and seasonal categories). Effectively utilize demand planning systems and insights to anticipate customer needs, align procurement strategies with forecasted demand, and proactively manage supply, inventory levels, and in-stock position across assigned categories.

HOUR

Overview:
Major Functions:  Responsible for the procurement strategy and execution of assigned produce categories, ensuring alignment with MDI’s profitability, service level, quality, and customer growth objectives. This role operates with broad decision-making authority across sourcing, pricing, inventory management, supplier relationships, and customer collaboration.

Responsibilities:
<ol><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Own end‑to‑end buying responsibility for assigned produce categories, including sourcing strategy, vendor selection, pricing, and procurement execution.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Deliver gross profit, inventory investment, and shrink performance in line with annual budgets and service level expectations.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Manage inventory levels, turns, and freshness, balancing customer demand, seasonality, and market volatility.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned customer groups, partnering with retail merchandisers to develop and execute ad strategies, promotional calendars, and item launches.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Analyze and respond to market conditions (availability, weather, freight, pricing trends) and proactively adjust buying strategies to mitigate risk and capitalize on opportunity.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Lead supplier relationships, including negotiation of pricing, programs, quality expectations, and corrective action when standards are not met.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Establish and maintain item standards, including PLUs, UPCs, pack specifications, and quality parameters for all assigned items.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Collaborate closely with warehouse operations and quality control to ensure optimal inbound quality, rotation, and distribution execution.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Execute structured sourcing processes, including RFP development, evaluation, and supplier negotiations to optimize cost, quality, and service.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Requires periodic travel to industry events, supplier and grower operations, and retail customer locations to support relationship development, store-level execution, collaborative planning, and validation of merchandising, promotional, and program performance.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Drive sales growth initiatives, including new item introductions, category expansion, and assortment optimization to increase customer competitiveness.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Provide guidance and informal mentoring to Associate Buyers, supporting skill development, problem-solving, and adherence to best practices.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Participate in cross-functional initiatives, food shows, customer meetings, and departmental projects as a subject matter expert.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Build and improve procurement tools, reporting, and analytics, including leveraging AI-enabled solutions to enhance decision-making and efficiency.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Effectively utilize demand planning systems and insights to anticipate customer needs, align procurement strategies with forecasted demand, and proactively manage supply, inventory levels, and in-stock position across assigned categories.</li></ol>

Qualifications:
<ul><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Agriculture, or related field preferred.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">5–8 years of progressive experience in produce buying, merchandising, or produce operations, including full-line buying responsibility with broad experience procuring across all primary produce commodities (fruits, vegetables, value-added, and seasonal categories).</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Demonstrated experience in FOB procurement and vendor negotiations.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Strong understanding of USDA standards, produce specifications, and quality assurance requirements.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Proven ability to manage complex portfolios in fast-paced, high‑volume environments.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Advanced analytical, negotiation, and decision-making skills.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Strong communication and relationship management skills with both internal and external stakeholders.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Proficiency with Microsoft Office and purchasing/inventory systems.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Ability to perform effectively under pressure and manage competing priorities.</li></ul> Dimensions:<ul><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Manages a portfolio of approximately 300 – 400 active SKUs across assigned produce commodities, including both commodity and value-added items.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Responsible for inventory positions typically ranging between $400K – 1M in on hand value, depending on seasonality and category mix.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Supports procurement and replenishment activity for 500+ customer locations, including independent retailers and multi-unit operators.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Interfaces with 60+ active suppliers, including direct growers, shippers, importers, and distribution partners.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Influences annual category revenue of approximately $50 – 60M+ across assigned commodities.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">No direct reports; provides functional leadership and day-to-day guidance to 6 Associate Buyers or support roles.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Utilizes enterprise systems, including purchasing, inventory management, and forecasting platforms.</li></ul> #LI-VP1

Buyer - Produce

Agriculture

Analysis Skills

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Best Practices

Bid Analysis

Budgeting

Cargo/Freight

Communication Skills

Corrective Action

Cost Control

Cross-Functional

Customer Relations

Customer/Client Research

Demand Forecasting/Planning

Distribution Channel

Financial Trend Analysis

Forecasting

Inventory Levels

Inventory Management

Leadership

Market Analysis

Mentoring

Merchandising

Metered Dose Inhalers

Microsoft Office

Negotiation Skills

Operations Control

People Management

Pricing

Problem Solving Skills

Procurement Management

Procurement Strategy

Profit & Loss

Promotional Programs

Promotional Strategy

Proposal Development

Purchasing/Procurement

Quality Assurance

Quality Control

Relationship Management

Requirements Management

Retail

Retail Operations

Revenue Growth

Risk Management

Sales Management

Sourcing Strategy

Stock Keeping Unit (SKU)

Supplier Optimization

Supply Chain

Team Player

Travel Industry

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Validation Plan

Vendor/Supplier Evaluation

Vendor/Supplier Relations

Vendor/Supplier Selection

Warehousing

Willing to Travel

[AW]-iCims

ADAPTED_NOW

<h4>Overview</h4>Major Functions:  Responsible for the procurement strategy and execution of assigned produce categories, ensuring alignment with MDI’s profitability, service level, quality, and customer growth objectives. This role operates with broad decision-making authority across sourcing, pricing, inventory management, supplier relationships, and customer collaboration.<h4>Responsibilities</h4><ul><li>Own end‑to‑end buying responsibility for assigned produce categories, including sourcing strategy, vendor selection, pricing, and procurement execution.</li><li>Deliver gross profit, inventory investment, and shrink performance in line with annual budgets and service level expectations.</li><li>Manage inventory levels, turns, and freshness, balancing customer demand, seasonality, and market volatility.</li><li>Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned customer groups, partnering with retail merchandisers to develop and execute ad strategies, promotional calendars, and item launches.</li><li>Analyze and respond to market conditions (availability, weather, freight, pricing trends) and proactively adjust buying strategies to mitigate risk and capitalize on opportunity.</li><li>Lead supplier relationships, including negotiation of pricing, programs, quality expectations, and corrective action when standards are not met.</li><li>Establish and maintain item standards, including PLUs, UPCs, pack specifications, and quality parameters for all assigned items.</li><li>Collaborate closely with warehouse operations and quality control to ensure optimal inbound quality, rotation, and distribution execution.</li><li>Execute structured sourcing processes, including RFP development, evaluation, and supplier negotiations to optimize cost, quality, and service.</li><li>Requires periodic travel to industry events, supplier and grower operations, and retail customer locations to support relationship development, store-level execution, collaborative planning, and validation of merchandising, promotional, and program performance.</li><li>Drive sales growth initiatives, including new item introductions, category expansion, and assortment optimization to increase customer competitiveness.</li><li>Provide guidance and informal mentoring to Associate Buyers, supporting skill development, problem-solving, and adherence to best practices.</li><li>Participate in cross-functional initiatives, food shows, customer meetings, and departmental projects as a subject matter expert.</li><li>Build and improve procurement tools, reporting, and analytics, including leveraging AI-enabled solutions to enhance decision-making and efficiency.</li><li>Effectively utilize demand planning systems and insights to anticipate customer needs, align procurement strategies with forecasted demand, and proactively manage supply, inventory levels, and in-stock position across assigned categories.</li><li><h4>Qualifications</h4><ul><li>Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Agriculture, or related field preferred.</li><li>5–8 years of progressive experience in produce buying, merchandising, or produce operations, including full-line buying responsibility with broad experience procuring across all primary produce commodities (fruits, vegetables, value-added, and seasonal categories).</li><li>Demonstrated experience in FOB procurement and vendor negotiations.</li><li>Strong understanding of USDA standards, produce specifications, and quality assurance requirements.</li><li>Proven ability to manage complex portfolios in fast-paced, high‑volume environments.</li><li>Advanced analytical, negotiation, and decision-making skills.</li><li>Strong communication and relationship management skills with both internal and external stakeholders.</li><li>Proficiency with Microsoft Office and purchasing/inventory systems.</li><li>Ability to perform effectively under pressure and manage competing priorities.</li></ul> Dimensions:<ul><li>Manages a portfolio of approximately 300 – 400 active SKUs across assigned produce commodities, including both commodity and value-added items.</li><li>Responsible for inventory positions typically ranging between $400K – 1M in on hand value, depending on seasonality and category mix.</li><li>Supports procurement and replenishment activity for 500+ customer locations, including independent retailers and multi-unit operators.</li><li>Interfaces with 60+ active suppliers, including direct growers, shippers, importers, and distribution partners.</li><li>Influences annual category revenue of approximately $50 – 60M+ across assigned commodities.</li><li>No direct reports; provides functional leadership and day-to-day guidance to 6 Associate Buyers or support roles.</li><li>Utilizes enterprise systems, including purchasing, inventory management, and forecasting platforms.</li></ul> #LI-VP1</li></ul>

Merchants Distributors, LLC

Alex Lee, Inc Jobs

Ensure best total cost of ownership for all indirect spend by negotiating and considering price, delivery terms, performance, capabilities, quality, innovation, and risk. Responsibilities: Under the direction of the Planning Manager, the Buyer and Cycle Count Coordinator will manage the procurement of all direct and indirect materials and services.

Overview:
Magnera's purpose is to better the world with new possibilities made real. For more than 160 years, the originating companies have delivered the material solutions their partners need to thrive. Through economic upheaval, global pandemics and changing end-user needs, they have consistently found ways to solve problems and exceed expectations. By bringing together these legacy companies, the distinct scale and comprehensive portfolio of products will bring customers more materials and choices. With a combined legacy of resilience, Magnera will build personal partnerships that withstand an ever-changing world.

Responsibilities:
Under the direction of the Planning Manager, the Buyer and Cycle Count Coordinator will manage the procurement of all direct and indirect materials and services. This will include using a TCO model to ensure that the plant is acquiring goods and services at the best possible total cost. This person will also manage cycle counting for all raw materials and indirect materials. JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:<ul><li style="color:black;margin-bottom:0in">Ensure best total cost of ownership for all indirect spend by negotiating and considering price, delivery terms, performance, capabilities, quality, innovation, and risk.</li><li style="color:black;margin-bottom:0in">Review purchase requisition backlog for indirect materials and service requisitions daily and process into purchase orders.</li><li>Manage proper min and max levels for raw materials and indirect material inventory.</li><li>Cycle counts performed in raw materials and indirect materials inventory.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Lead day-to-day raw materials receiving. Assist with issue investigations.</li><li>Record management for direct materials and assist with receiving in SAP as needed.</li><li>Review purchase requisition backlog for indirect material and low value service requisitions daily and process into purchase orders.</li><li>Input confirmation data from suppliers into PO including updating purchase info records with new pricing as needed.</li><li>Work with Production Planner for procurement of packaging items and cores.</li><li>Manage surplus items (overmax or obsolete) to sell to supplier.</li><li>Work closely with accounts payable to resolve invoice discrepancies or receiving issues.</li><li>Record management for direct materials which includes working with suppliers on paperwork discrepancies.</li><li style="color:black;margin-bottom:0in">Obtain quotes from suppliers.</li><li style="color:black;margin-bottom:0in">Review Open PO report weekly and contact suppliers as needed.</li><li style="color:black;margin-bottom:0in">Purchasing Info Record maintenance for indirect materials that includes creation for new parts and editing as needed. </li><li style="color:black;margin-bottom:0in">Develop and maintain relationships with indirect material/service suppliers.</li><li style="color:black;margin-bottom:0in">Manage supplier-managed inventory programs.</li><li style="color:black;margin-bottom:0in">Analytical spend analysis and monthly KPI.</li><li style="color:black;margin-bottom:0in">Close service PO’s monthly.</li><li style="color:black;margin-bottom:0in">Manage office supplies.</li><li>Participates in special projects and handles all other assigned duties as required.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Promotes and supports Magnera’s Environmental and Health and Safety Policies. Ensures that he/she understands and follows these policies.</li><li style="margin-bottom:0in">Perform other duties as assigned.</li></ul>

Qualifications:
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:<ul><li>Minimum Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree in related field preferred.</li><li>3-5 years of experience related experience in Procurement/and or Inventory Management; or equivalent combination of education and experience.</li><li>ERP System, SAP experience is preferred.</li><li>Computer literacy – Microsoft products.</li></ul> COMPETENCIES:<ul><li>Analytical and math skills</li><li>Communication</li><li>Negotiation skills</li><li>Collaboration and teamwork</li><li>Supplier management</li></ul> WORKING CONDITIONS:<ul><li>100% On-Site Position</li><li>Located in Mount Holly, NC 28120</li><li>Less than 5% travel domestically</li></ul>

Magnera Corporation

Buyer and Cycle Count Coordinator

Accounts Payable

Computer Skills

Data Entry

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)

Editing

Environmental Health

Expense Analysis

Inventory Cycle Counts

Materials Management

Mathematics

Microsoft Product Family

Organizational Skills

Performance Metrics

Procurement Planning

Project/Program Management

Purchase Orders

Record Keeping

Risk

SAP ECC (fka SAP R/3 and SAP ERP)

Safety/Work Safety

Sales

Total Cost of Ownership

Vendor/Supplier Management

YEAR

By providing your phone number, you consent to: (1) receive automated text messages and calls from the Judge Group, Inc. and its affiliates (collectively "Judge") to such phone number regarding job opportunities, your job application, and for other related purposes. If you have purchasing experience in food distribution and know how to manage vendors, negotiate pricing, and keep product flowing — this is a strong next step.

Location: Conover, NC Salary: Depends on Experience Description: Our client is adding a sharp, detail‑driven Poultry Buyer to their procurement team in Conover, NC. If you have purchasing experience in food distribution and know how to manage vendors, negotiate pricing, and keep product flowing — this is a strong next step.<h2>What You’ll Do</h2><ul><li>Source and select vendors who deliver reliable service, quality product, and competitive pricing</li><li>Maintain strong supplier relationships and resolve issues with invoicing, product quality, or delivery</li><li>Purchase product based on demand, economic order quantities, warehouse capacity, and market conditions</li><li>Negotiate pricing, quantities, and long‑term agreements to secure a continuous supply</li><li>Support emergency sourcing needs and expedite product when required</li><li>Provide product and pricing information to the sales team and recommend pricing structures</li><li>Evaluate alternate suppliers and monitor vendor performance</li><li>Assist with special orders and maintain in‑stock service levels</li><li>Minimize shrinkage</li><li>Perform additional duties as needed to support the procurement team</li></ul><hr/><h2>Compensation & Benefits</h2><ul><li>Total compensation up to $100,000 (salary + bonus)</li><li>Top‑tier Fortune 500–level benefits, including:<ul><li>Medical, dental, and vision</li><li>Excellent matching 401(k)</li><li>Robust insurance and wellness programs</li><li>Additional employee benefits and perks</li></ul></li></ul><hr/><h2>What We’re Looking For</h2><ul><li>High School Diploma/GED required (Bachelor’s degree preferred)</li><li>2+ years of poultry purchasing experience required</li><li>Must have experience working for a Foodservice, Wholesale food, or retail distributor.</li><li>Strong negotiation, communication, and vendor‑management skills</li><li>Ability to analyze data, understand market trends, and make smart purchasing decisions</li><li>Organized, detail‑oriented, and comfortable in a fast‑paced environment</li></ul><hr/><h2>Location</h2><ul><li>Conover, NC</li><li>Local candidates only — no relocation assistance offered</li></ul><hr/>If you’re a poultry buyer who thrives in a fast‑moving environment and wants to grow with a strong organization, let’s talk.Interested or know someone who fits? Message me directly at rarritola@judge.com. #JDP #Purchasingjobs #buyer #poultry #foodservice #distributionjobs #ConoverNCjobs<ul></ul>By providing your phone number, you consent to: (1) receive automated text messages and calls from the Judge Group, Inc. and its affiliates (collectively "Judge") to such phone number regarding job opportunities, your job application, and for other related purposes. Message & data rates apply and message frequency may vary. Consistent with Judge's Privacy Policy, information obtained from your consent will not be shared with third parties for marketing/promotional purposes. Reply STOP to opt out of receiving telephone calls and text messages from Judge and HELP for help. Contact: rarritola@judge.com <div align="center" style="background-color:#999999">This job and many more are available through The Judge Group. Find us on the web at www.judge.com</div>

The Judge Group Inc., is a leading professional services firm specializing in talent, technology, and learning solutions. We consult, staff, train, and solve. Through our work we make people and organizations better. Our services are successfully delivered through a network of more than 30 offices across the United States, Canada, and India.
The Judge Group is proud to partner with the best and brightest companies in business today, including over 60 of the Fortune 100. We serve organizations in financial services, healthcare, life sciences, insurance, government (including aerospace and defense), manufacturing, and technology and telecommunications. If you would like to learn more about The Judge Group visit www.judge.com or call toll free (800) 360-4474.

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Buyer Jobs in Hickory, NC

Buyer - Produce MDI

Buyer - Produce Merchants Distributors, LLC

Buyer and Cycle Count Coordinator Magnera Corporation

Poultry Buyer Judge Group

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