Buyer

Chefs' Warehouse - Portland, OR

Portland, OR

Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods

About the position

The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. combines exceptional quality and brand building with broadline food service distribution for more than 35 years. With Protein, Specialty, Produce, and Broadline offerings, we service the most discerning chefs in a hybrid approach of convenience and superior quality. We introduce more than 2,000 artisan producers of the world's finest ingredients from over 40 countries to the finest chefs in the world. We passionately consult, sell, and build relationships with more than 35,000 customers through the most experienced network of over 600 consultive sales associates, best-in-breed technology, rapid service, and support levels that solidify our long-standing ties to both established and up-and-coming premium restaurants. The mission of The Chefs' Warehouse is to provide the world's greatest ingredients to the world's best chefs. The position coordinates inventory replenishment activities with suppliers, sales, logistics, and operations for assigned categories.

Responsibilities

• Place purchase orders with vendors utilizing an awareness of seasonal fluctuations, market effects and other information that require a high attention to detail to avoid spoilage, overstocks, and shortages.
• Manage and maintain the entire Purchase-to-Pay process, covering PO Creation, Vendor Confirmation, Accurate expected delivery date updates, and Collaboration with Accounts Payable to ensure payment.
• Maintain Purchasing system data to effectively generate suggested POs.
• Maintain necessary required vendor documents (electronic and physical), such as W-9's, Indemnities, etc.
• Work closely with vendors to ensure POs are filled and delivered in a timely fashion.
• Manage FDA issues with vendors.
• Collaborate with logistics to minimize freight expenses.
• Work with Sales Managers to manage out-of-stock or over-stock risks.
• Enable sales order growth with Customer Service teams.
• Build and maintain vendor relationships to support PO fulfillment and negotiate volume discounts and price breaks.
• Manage Fusion system issues that impact Purchasing and Receiving.
• Maintain BFC dating system to minimize close dated issues and expired product impact.

Requirements

• 5+ years buying experience with a focus on Specialty Food Products for a multi-unit Distribution Organization.
• Bachelor's degree from accredited four-year college or university preferred.
• Previous food service distribution and/or food importing experience strongly preferred.
• Commodity product awareness including blanket commitments, contractual processes, and appropriate market tracking.
• Advanced Excel Skill and additional Computer skills (JDE, Microsoft Suite - Word and PowerPoint, etc.).
• Must have a sense of urgency and be able to work under pressure, be comfortable in a fast-paced, metrics-driven environment.
• Flexible with the ability to work well with all departments and levels of staff both internally & externally.
• Professional demeanor during all interactions with vendors, customers and fellow employees via phone or in-person.
• Have a drive to advance within the organization.
• Must be a team player with a positive attitude.
• Excellent verbal/written communication skills and a high level of analytical capabilities within Excel.
• Self-starter, professional, goal oriented and able to handle multiple tasks.

Benefits

• Paid Vacations, Paid Holidays
• Health, Dental and Medical Benefits
• Weekly pay
• Life Insurance
• 5% above cost for our high-quality food products
• Employee discounts for travel and events
• 401k
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan