Assistant Buyer

Purpose: The Assistant Buyer provides operational support to the Buyer of an assigned category of business by contributing to product selection (beverage, snack, convection, HBA) in line with market trends, margin objectives, and broader strategic direction of the company.

Essential Functions:

• Interacts with vendors to gather information for item setup, problem resolution and purchasing of product
• Analyzes product performance and identifying growth opportunities and liabilities
• Oversees purchase orders including order writing, changes, cancellations, ensuring key shipments are delivered and processed
• Develops working knowledge of the buying functions including product selection, negotiation, pricing, and store merchandising
• Works as intermediary between buyers and vendors to resolve issues including out of stocks, cost adjustments and new product selection
• Reviews and analyzes daily/weekly reports, subsequently highlighting noteworthy achievements or possible concerns to the relevant buyer
• Assists in plan-o-gram development
• Assists in planning/coordination of availability of products for new store openings

Reporting Relationship: The Assistant Buyer reports into the Senior Director, Category Management

Major Interdependencies: Marketing and Communications, Planning, Supply Chain, Operations

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Work Environment:

• Education and Experience: The combination of education and professional experience must exceed 3 years:
  • In a technical role: Requires 3 years in retail  
    • A bachelor’s degree in a business, marketing, or management program related to the functional area can count for 1 of the 3-year requirement
    • An MBA or a master’s level degree in a program related to the functional area can count for an additional 1 years of 3-year requirement
  • In the industry: 3 years of retail experience
• Specialized Training:
  • Training that leads to competency using financial tools; knowledge of concept profitability and how to use market trend information
• Specialized Skillset/Competencies/Traits
  • Must be proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel
  • Experience with SAP preferred
  • Business acumen and also has the mindset required to understand the long-term implications of buying decisions and to advance the organizations goals
  • Demonstrated history of understanding the needs of the business, stakeholders, the employee population, and individual circumstances

• Location/Travel
  • This position may be based at the Retail Center of Excellence in East Rutherford, NJ or the F&B Center of Excellence in Bethesda, MD
  • This position requires up to 15% travel  

Disclaimer:

All job requirements are subject to change to reflect the evolving position requirements or to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a threat or risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to which will be required in this position. Employees will be required to follow other job-related duties as requested by their supervisor/manager (within guidelines and compliance with Federal and State Laws). Continued employment remains on an "at-will" basis.

Dufry, Hudson, and HMSHost are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.