The role sits in the Replenishment Buying organization and is stationed at the Area level. The Area Buyer will utilize their category expertise and vendor specific knowledge to manage inventory levels for all assigned items, suppliers and/or categories while maintaining service level targets to our customers. The Area Buyer will be an elevated, standardized role across the organization focusing on highest value buying actions such as PO management, inventory monitoring and core KPI reporting. They will serve as the primary POC for vendor POs within an Area. Additionally, Area Buyers will team up with Replenishment operations to problem solve and ensure our customers receive complete orders and have great experiences. For External Interest: Must be able to commute to US Foods location (Perth Amboy, NJ). The role is segmented as Hybrid meaning the position will be onsite 2 days a month in Perth Amboy. Internal Interest: You must be located near a US Foods location and work EST hours . The role is segmented as Hybrid meaning the position will be onsite 2 days a month. ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES Daily replenishment duties and KPI monitoring: Drive the core Replenishment buying work and ensure key functions are being fulfilled. 3 KPI Reporting: Delivers on KPI's for desk specific goals such as: Service Level, Days-Inventory-On-Hand (DIOH), Excess and Obsolete inventory (E&O) and Spoilage. 3 PO preparation: Analyzes economic order quantities, forecasts, lead times, vendor set-up, safety stock, etc., and uses discretion and independent judgment to create efficient purchase orders with our suppliers. 3 PO Buying: Executes forward-buy opportunities to achieve profitability for period or year-end based on targeted goals. Controls decision rights on PO execution, timing and to ensure KPI's are balanced with needs of the business. 3 Inventory Monitoring: Proactively reviews projected out of stock report daily and makes purchasing decisions, including how and where to find substitute products where appropriate, to ensure we deliver on customer order fulfillment. 3 Inventory Reporting: Routinely monitor (and escalate with suggested actions as needed) crucial inventory health reports such as stock outs, waitlist, and subgroup exception reports 3 PO monitoring & recovery: Establish sharp communication with internal partners on supplier production delays or order shortages, while pursuing recovery options with urgency. Cross-functional coordination and company performance optimization: Coordinate cross functionally to manage and improve key drivers of company performance 3 Inventory Optimization: Collaborates with internal and external business partners to reduce overstock, slow-moving and obsolete inventory, as well as initiate product returns where applicable. 3 Spoilage Minimization: Utilizes understanding of product shelf life and manufacturing dates in the prevention of spoilage for specific buying categories. 3 Seasonal Adjustments: Communicates closely with our cross-functional partners to capture seasonal trends and events in the business as well as drive profitability with accurate costs. 3 Category Management Coordination: Partners appropriately with product/category management team to maintain supplier relationships and proper accountability. 3 Logistics Coordination: Cooperates with the Logistics and Replenishment Excellence teams to identify and achieve freight consolidation in order to maximize net income and best cost of goods. 3 Warehouse Operations Coordination: Evaluates inbound volume and purchase history to collaborate with warehouse operations on efficient receiving practices. Team cooperation & continuous improvement: Participate on a team of 3-10 talented Buyers and help drive continuous improvement within the team. Specifically providing: 3 Continuous improvement: Share your current challenges, operational learnings, and opportunities with the Area Replenishment staff to make recommendations for how to improve standard processes 3 Clear communication channels: Ensure smooth coordination and information flow between Replenishment Operations, cross-functional partners, and Area Buying operations 3 Culture building: Contribute to a strong culture of customer service orientation, collaboration, performance, and continuous improvement within the team SUPERVISION: Directly reports to a Director, Area Replenishment (or in some instances: Manager, Replenishment) RELATIONSHIPS This role sits within the Replenishment function, and it is part of a dedicated Area Replenishment Buying team which must coordinate with other Replenishment functions and cross-functional personnel 3 Replenishment Operations: The role will communicate with Replenishment Leads/Assistants to confirm POs are delivered successfully and remedy situations in which issues arise 3 Replenishment Excellence: The role will be supported by a talented team of inventory optimization and demand forecasting personnel. Buyers will coordinate with these teams to optimize PO buying decisions and truck builds 3 Additional functions to work closely with: 3 Logistics: OTD issues, truck building, order shortages/delays 3 Warehouse Operations: Receiving schedules & practices 3 Category Management: Commodity buying guidance, supplier & sourcing decisions 3 Sales: Customer service support WORK ENVIRONMENT 3 Hybrid: This role is partially remote, and the associate is expected to perform assigned responsibilities from a combined home-based and office-based environment. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 3 1+ years of direct inventory management/supply chain experience required. 3 Possess superior oral and written communication along with strong analytical skills. 3 Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with suppliers, sales, field partners and other business contacts via telephone, email, and video conferencing. 3 Must have a general understanding of logistics and connection in support of an efficient distribution model. 3 Must be able to deal with high pressure situations to meet daily/weekly timelines with a high sense of urgency. 3 Ability to function in Microsoft Excel 3 Ability to quickly learn new technologies, with SCPO experience heavily preferred. EDUCATION 3 Four-year degree is highly preferred. Equivalent work experience and applicable certifications may be considered as well (Military Service, APICS, CPM, etc.). PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 3 Minimum 3 years purchasing experience preferred, with food service experience a plus. This role will also receive annual incentive plan bonus. Benefits for this role may include health insurance, pre-tax spending accounts, retirement benefits, paid time off, short-term and long-term disability, employee stock purchase plan, and life insurance. To review available benefits, please click here: https://www.usfoods.com/careers/benefits.html. Compensation depends on relevant experience and/or education, specific skills, function, geographic location, and other factors as applicable by law (for example: state or local minimum wage thresholds). The expected base rate for this role is between $65,000 - $105,000