Buyer

Buyer

The Buyer at Katzman Produce is responsible for the procurement and management of product within their designated category or department. This position requires a deep understanding of produce markets, logistics, pricing trends, customer needs, and vendor relationships. The Buyer plays a key role in ensuring consistent product availability, maintaining profitability, and supporting the Sales team through strategic sourcing and real-time communication. This is a highly collaborative role that serves as a critical link between shippers, vendors, the warehouse, and the Sales team. The Buyer is expected to act as a leader within the department, guiding buyer assistants, coordinating with warehouse teams, and maintaining a keen eye on inventory and market movement.

Key Responsibilities

• Procurement & Market Analysis
• Monitor and evaluate market trends, pricing fluctuations, seasonality, and growing regions to inform daily purchasing decisions.
• Maintain strong knowledge of all aspects of the assigned product category, including origin, seasonality, quality specs, and pricing history.
• Source product strategically to maximize profitability while balancing factors such as freight, availability, quality, and timing.
• Monitor current and forecasted weather conditions and assess their impact at the growing point, in transit, and at the destination (including Hunts Point Market).
• Inventory & Logistics Management
• Maintain targeted inventory levels by overseeing inbound product timelines and collaborating with logistics personnel.
• Ensure continuous product flow to meet customer demand and support sales team needs.
• Walk the warehouse regularly and collaborate with salespeople and warehouse supervisors to maintain real-time awareness of on-hand inventory.
• Provide pricing, documentation, and timelines to support claims and invoice accuracy within 35 days of product receipt.
• Review and submit purchase orders for processing within 1421 days of product receipt; ensure Buyer Assistants are tracking and updating purchase order statuses accordingly.
• Vendor & Shipper Relationship Management
• Develop, manage, and grow strong relationships with shippers and vendors to ensure reliable sourcing and collaborative partnerships.
• Serve as the face of Katzman Produce in all vendor and shipper interactions, both on-site and off-site.
• Set clear expectations with vendors regarding pricing, product quality, shipping timelines, and billing practices.
• Sales Team Partnership
• Act as a strategic partner to the Sales team by:
• Providing current product costs, market insights, and vendor/grower expectations.
• Supporting daily sales goals through inventory management and price guidance.
• Monitoring daily sales reports to course-correct underperforming items or mispriced products.
• Supporting the arrangement of promotional/Ad pricing for select customers and communicating changes accordingly.
• Team Leadership
• Serve as a leader and point of contact within the category team, overseeing Buyer Assistants and supporting department salespeople.
• Delegate clerical tasks, order maintenance, and PO tracking to Buyer Assistants while ensuring accuracy and responsiveness to shippers/vendors.
• Coach and guide team members on best practices, internal communication, and timely follow-up.

Additional Responsibilities

• Represent Katzman Produce at industry events or vendor site visits as needed.
• Coordinate with Finance and Accounts Payable on invoice discrepancies, credits, and vendor billing.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Education: High school diploma or GED required; Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Business, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred.
• Experience: Minimum 3-5 years of experience in produce procurement, wholesale buying, or supply chain operations. Experience in Hunts Point or a similar wholesale terminal market is strongly preferred.
• Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with produce categories, growing cycles, perishability standards, and market conditions required.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong analytical and negotiation skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, inventory systems, and ERP platforms.
• Ability to assess product quality and make quick, informed decisions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for vendor interaction and internal collaboration.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure, and deadline-driven environment.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be comfortable walking warehouse floors and inspecting perishable products.
• Occasional travel for vendor site visits or industry events.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including early mornings or weekends during peak seasons.

Pay: The expected salary range for this position is $120,000 to $140,000 annually. Final compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.