Lead Category Buyer, Direct

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Gordon Food Service is hiring an Lead Category Buyer. Responsible to create, lead, and manage financial discovery and negotiation strategies for assigned North American categories (estimated $1B). Collaborates with Category Management, Strategic Procurement, and Supply Chain teams to effectively be responsible for end-to-end sourcing solutions. Negotiates fully landed product costs that contribute to the financial goals of the Merchandising and Marketing Services Team, and achieve regional and divisional objectives. Responsible for negotiating supplier agreements which ensure cost competitiveness and continuous improvement opportunities. Maintains an appropriate knowledge of product categories, vendors and markets, and supplier relationships.

Responsibilities

Leadership

• Leads and manages all procurement process activities for assigned North American product category in support of category commitments and initiatives.
• Develop supplier strategies and lead North American negotiations.
• Mentors all category members on negotiation skill development and techniques.
  
  

Vision & Planning

• Manages the development and implementation of the Annual Operating Plan negotiation calendar and corresponding realized savings financial commitments, including regular status updates.
• Supports the planning and execution of strategies resulting in optimal value for Gordon Food Service by balancing fully landed cost of goods (bottom line), without compromising commitments to growth (top line) and enabling continuous improvement goals.
  
  

Communication & Relationship Building

• Responsible for engaging shareholders (i.e., divisions, category managers, etc.) to understand business needs, and responsible for developing negotiation strategies to achieve objectives.
• Responsible for leading discussions with business owners, leaders, and key decision makers within the supply base to achieve unique, collaborative, yet globally competitive sourcing solutions that differentiate GFS from it’s competitors.
• Communicates category negotiation updates to the North American Leader team.
• Collaborates with Category and Brand Managers to provide strategic support of GFS brand(s) sales initiatives.
  
  

Category & Vendor Management

• Understands and leverages both broadline foodservice distribution and retail market needs to develop and execute best in class sourcing solutions.
• Responsible for all phases of Competitive Market Reviews for defined product categories, including development of negotiation strategies, tactics, and execution plans to achieve desired outcomes, as well as the accurate transfer of negotiation points into a signed agreement and archived into the agreement system.
• Leads specific procurement initiatives within the category to achieve strategic business needs as assigned, including booking initiatives, regional sourcing strategies and Vendor Involvement Program (VIP) involvement.
• Ensures that agreement process results in accurate contract implementation as well as non-price considerations throughout the business cycle.
• Responsible for analyzing various inputs (ranging from cost, quality, support, service) and execute best value sourcing solutions.
• Maintains effective vendor relationships supporting continuous cost improvement and value creation initiatives.
• Critically monitors and analyzes assigned product categories and related product markets for cost-savings opportunities.
• Achieves category savings goals while ensuring mutual ownership of category goals.
• Sources supplies and items that meet defined specifications, performance, or functionality.
• Continually seeks to drive procurement process efficiencies.
• Support ongoing Category Management initiatives.
  
  

Ideal Candidate Will Have

• This position requires excellent leadership abilities and a positive attitude with a commitment to personal and professional success.
• Must have excellent analytical skills and be detail oriented with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Must be able to accept and accomplish multiple and diverse assignments.
• Must be able to work independently and in a team environment.
• This position also requires a professional demeanor, honesty, integrity, drive, tenacity, determination, and a willingness to learn.
• Able to develop solutions to a variety of problems of moderate scope and complexity. Refers to policies and practices for guidance.
• Ability to demonstrate proficient written and conversational French and/or Spanish language skills is preferred.
  
  

Experience

• Bachelor degree required
• Typical requirements for this job include advanced education (bachelor’s degree) plus seven or more years of procurement related experience (preferably in the food service industry). Demonstrated success with negotiations and working knowledge of sourcing strategies required. If no degree, ten or more years of relevant experience required.
  
  

BE PART OF AN AMAZING CULTURE WHERE WHAT MATTERS TO YOU, MATTERS TO US!

Gordon Food Service values our customers and understands that their success is largely dependent upon their workforce. To demonstrate our commitment to our partnership, we will require any candidate who works for a Gordon Food Service customer to provide a letter of support from their management if they are selected for the interview process.

Gordon Food Service is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants and employees will receive consideration for employment, or in terms or conditions of employment, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability. The EEO is the Law poster is available here: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please submit your request to [email protected] and use the words “Accommodation Request” in your subject line. Please keep in mind this method is reserved for individuals who require accommodation due to a disability.

All Gordon Food Service locations are tobacco-free.

Gordon Food Service is a drug-free workplace and drug tests all employees.