Our client is seeking a Purchasing Manager for a 4th Generation, 100 year old family, home, farm and auto retail chain headquartered in Dubuque, IA. The Purchasing Manager will lead a team of 8-10 buyers, associate buyers and analysts to grow sales and profitability for the Soft Lines side of the business.
Purchasing Leadership Experience in: Clothing, Footwear, Consumables, Decor & Gifts a must. Experience within a large home & farm chain is a huge bonus.
Purchasing Manager
Job Description
The Purchasing Manager is responsible for growing and maximizing sales and profitability of our stores, online business and assist in meeting or exceeding the strategic goals of the company. Also, apply focus on developing exclusive products, value and brands for our customers and ensure availability thorough a differentiated assortment. The PM also oversees and sets clear expectations for the direction of staff through consistent communication and awareness to meet or exceed the company’s short and long-term goals.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in business related field preferred and/or equivalent experience
Minimum 5 years of related channel purchasing experience
Travel required with occasional overnight stays
Job Duties
Increase Sales, Turns, Return on Investment and Profit through consistent evaluation of product, inventory and vendors
Ensure that staff effectively manages stock at desired levels with minimal backstock
Work with the CMO to plan and lead the development and execution of an Open to Buy (OTB) program based on seasonal needs and sales strategies
Manage a team of buyers and Associate Buyers by setting expectations, teaching, providing them the right tools and holding the team accountable.
Provide monthly, quarterly and annual reports that effectively measure our progress toward established goals
Work with vendors to reduce the landed cost, handling costs, and lead time of all products
Budget sales, profit and inventory annually and establish similar goals with staff to meet or beat budget
Grow same store sales and profit each year and support new stores with enthusiasm
Create a culture of awareness, sharing and inclusiveness and celebrate success often and with a loud voice
Perform yearly performance evaluations of Buyers and Associate Buyers; establish and review goals for each
Work effectively with Ecommerce to develop the best-in-class online offering for all products and services
Coordinate with Commercial Sales in order to maximize our commercial customer potential
Develop new and engaging assortments that meet or exceed the expectations of our customers, through offering new and innovative products and promotions
Meet with vendors, negotiate prices, product lifts, returns, reviewing product lines, negotiate discounts, co-op and ensure the vendors’ products meet profit expectations
Create effective and scalable planogram assortments and effectively work with Merchandising, POG personnel, and Store Operations to ensure POGs are well executed and effective
Ensure competitive awareness in all areas through regular competition checks both online and in-store and identify new display ideas that competitors are using to attract customers
Visit each store personally at least twice per year and work with Store Operations and Merchandising to improve store sales and productivity
Assist in new store sets and remodels
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Proficient in Word, Excel, Outlook and Power Point, and knowledge of database software
Exhibit a high level of integrity and business ethics to handle sensitive and confidential information
Excellent organizational skills with the ability to plan, prioritize and organize a diversified workload
Experience with accounting, forecasting, projections and spreadsheet analysis
Marketing experience
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills and ability to make realistic and rational decisions based on logical assumptions and relevant facts
Interpersonal skills including enthusiasm, courtesy, empathy, flexibility, and patience
Experience supervising, counseling, evaluating, training, and disciplining subordinates
Benefits:
Generous Salary & 20% KPI based bonus
Health, Dental, Vision, Flexible spending account
Short-term and long-term disability
Life insurance
PTO, Holiday, and Birthday-off pay
Associate discount and many other benefits
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