Category Buyer

Burton Mill Solutions

$65K — $100K *
Retail & Consumer Goods
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of relevant purchasing experience
  • Proven track record in managing complex SKU portfolios
  • Strong negotiation skills with a focus on supplier management
  • Experience working with international suppliers, particularly in Asia
  • Excellent analytical skills with a focus on demand planning and inventory management
  • Familiarity with import processes and logistics management

Responsibilities

  • Manage and optimize spend categories to enhance cost efficiency
  • Build and maintain robust relationships with global suppliers
  • Oversee order management processes from inception to completion
  • Communicate effectively with stakeholders about delivery and inventory levels
  • Analyze demand and inventory patterns for strategic planning
  • Evaluate logistics options for optimal cost and efficiency

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents from the first month after hiring
  • Wellness reimbursement of up to $300 annually
  • RRSP with substantial employer matching contributions
  • Up to 3 weeks of PTO accrued annually with immediate usage allowed
Full Job Description
Position Summary

The Category Buyer is responsible for managing and optimizing assigned spend categories, including the procurement of materials, products, and services for both resale and manufacturing. This role serves as a critical link between internal stakeholders and global suppliers, while driving cost efficiency, supply security, and operational accuracy.

The ideal candidate brings strong attention to detail, the ability to manage complexity, and a proactive, ownership-driven mindset.

Key Responsibilities

Category & Supplier Management

  • Manage a large, complex SKU portfolio with thousands of active items, ensuring accuracy and eliminating duplication
  • Work within highly technical product categories with multiple variants and specifications
  • Build and manage supplier relationships, primarily across Asia, including navigating time zones and cultural differences
  • Identify opportunities to reduce total cost of ownership and improve supply continuity


Procurement & Purchase Orders

  • Oversee full lifecycle management of purchase orders, including blanket orders and long-term supply strategies
  • Verify order acknowledgments and pricing accuracy
  • Maintain clear communication with suppliers and internal stakeholders regarding delivery timing and constraints
  • Create and maintain Item Masters and vendor pricing agreements


Inventory & Demand Planning

  • Maintain inventory levels aligned with business needs, balancing customer service and cost
  • Analyze demand patterns, lead times, and risk to establish inventory targets
  • Communicate future demand signals to suppliers to ensure supply readiness and efficiency


International Logistics & Imports

  • Evaluate air vs. ocean freight decisions based on urgency, cost, and inventory position
  • Oversee end-to-end import processes from Asia, including documentation, HTS classification guidance, and coordination with freight forwarders and customs brokers


Success Profile

This role requires a professional who can build credibility quickly and influence cross-functional teams. Success depends on responsiveness, proactive problem-solving, and the ability to drive both immediate results and long-term process improvements.

Core Competencies

  • Communication: Strong alignment and clarity with stakeholders
  • Negotiation: Balances supplier and company objectives for optimal outcomes
  • Ownership Mindset: Takes initiative and accountability for results
  • Attention to Detail: High accuracy and precision in all work
  • Proactive Approach: Anticipates needs and prepares in advance
  • Critical Thinking: Breaks down complex challenges and makes informed decisions
  • Problem Solving: Identifies root causes and delivers practical solutions


Salary Range: $65-100k DOE

Benefits

Burton Mill Solutions offers a competitive benefits package, including:

Our Benefits:

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance available to employees and their dependents on the 1st of month following date of hire
  • Up to $300 per year in wellness activity reimbursement
  • RRSP with 100% employer match up to 3% of employee contribution, plus 50% employer match on next 2% of employee contribution, for a total employer match of up to 4%.
  • Up to 3 weeks of Paid Time Off (PTO) accrued per year with no waiting period to use accrued time


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