Grocery Buyer (Wedge Linden Hills) (Finance)

Reports to: Grocery Manager

This position is primarily responsible for assisting and working closely with the Grocery Manager with the day-to-day operation of the store to meet objectives for sales, margin, inventory, and customer service. This position will also be responsible for implementing strategies to improve customer service, drive store sales, and increase profitability and maintaining store appearance and product presentation to company standards by performing the following duties.

RESPONSIBILITIES
CUSTOMER SERVICE Assists customers with questions, in a prompt, friendly, courteous manner and refers them to others as necessary. Helps customers place and fill special orders. Models' excellent customer service for the Store team. Ensures that department employees provide excellent customer service and receive appropriate customer service training.

PURCHASING. Helps negotiate for grocery departments and products, favorable prices, terms, quality, and delivery. Places regular orders as needed to ensure a steady supply of what customers want, and adequate supply for specials. Evaluates vendors and investigates new sources of supply as necessary. Presents to Grocery Manager for approval. Receives orders and obtains credits following established procedures. Ensure current, accurate prices are in the scanning system, if not correct with scanning department. Communicates supplier issues and shelf/product needs to Grocery Manager.
Coordinates returns and credits from suppliers where applicable; maintains accurate accounting of credit requests. Reviews invoices for accuracy. Ensures that unsellable items are returned for credit or disposed of following company procedures.

FINANCIALS. Participates in achieving sales and margin goals for the department with Grocery Manager. Reviews financial reports with Grocery Manager and takes corrective action as needed. Maintains price guidelines to achieve margin goals. Plan, coordinate, and participate in quarterly inventories. Meets labor, sales and margin goals determined in conjunction with the Store Manager. Maintains working knowledge of personnel reports, margin reports, weekly sales numbers, and financial goals. Communicates relevant sales, margin, and labor goals to team on a regular basis.

MERCHANDISING/STOCKING. Sets stocking priorities to ensure shelves are fully stocked and rotated for freshness. Stocks as needed. Ensures stocking is done accurately and efficiently. Visits other stores for price comparisons, product, and merchandising ideas. Reads trade journals to keep abreast of developments in industry. Ensures informational signs and price labels/shelf tags are accurate, uniform and up to date. Helps to plan and build endcaps and displays. Provides product information as needed for staff and customers. Ensures grocery departments are fully stocked, faced, and rotated, following established merchandising procedures. Receives orders or ensures proper receiving in accordance with established procedures; maintains accurate receiving records. Assists with resets as needed.

BACK OF HOUSE. Maintains storage system in backroom and overstock areas for all backend departments. Keeps all supplies stocked and equipment in working order, communicates maintenance needs to the Grocery Manager. Assists Grocery Manager in the design and implementation of procedures for ordering, receiving, inventory tracking, and back-room organization. Ensures that department areas are in clean, orderly condition, meeting health department standards.

PERSONNEL. Responsibilities include working with Grocery Manager on interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. Communicates standards, expectations, policy changes and product knowledge to team. Provides support to store employees during peak periods or when scheduling conflicts arise. Maintain communication with staff through regular meetings and email correspondence

SAFETY. Alerts manager, MOD or FC to potential shoplifters, disorderly customers, or other emergencies. Maintain department equipment in working order. Ensures compliance with company's safety practices and procedures, both throughout the store and within the department. Ensures that sales floor department shelves, displays, aisles, and storage areas are maintained in a clean, orderly condition, satisfying Health Department and store safety standards. Ensures safety of staff and customers, responds to emergencies and safety hazards. Ensures safety and quality of all grocery products by monitoring storage conditions, temperatures and shelf life; discounts short dated product.
OTHER. Supports the Grocery Manager as needed, including other tasks as assigned. Attends department and storewide meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS:
· Well-organized, pays attention to detail.
· Experience purchasing retail natural foods.
· Knowledge of trends in natural foods industry.
· Demonstrated ability to follow through on commitments.
· Communication skills- good listener, clear instructions
· Demonstrated ability to handle multiple demands
· Willingness to work one weekend day
· Maintain confidentiality in sensitive matters
· Proven leadership ability to build, motivate and maintain staff
· Demonstrated ability to work with customers and coworkers from diverse cultural backgrounds.
· Ability to work with TCCP to create an inclusive environment where all are welcomed
· 2+ years retail experience
· 1+ years purchasing or supervisory experience

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
· While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to sit. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
· Willingness to work in cold, damp environments
· The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Twin Cities Co-op Partners has an ongoing commitment to the principles and practices of diversity and inclusiveness. Our employment practices are in accordance with the laws that prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, age, marital status, familial status, veteran status, citizenship, pregnancy, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, status with regard to public assistance, or any other status category by applicable law. People with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to apply