Produce Buyer

Location 26401 79th Avenue South,Kent, WA, 98032,United States Base Pay $60,000.00 - $80,000.00 / Year Job Category Staff Employee Type FT Exempt Required Degree 4 Year Degree Travel 10% Manage Others No About the Role We’re looking for an experienced Produce Buyer to take full ownership of our fresh produce and perishable categories. You'll develop sourcing strategies, build relationships with regional growers and vendors, and drive profitability while delivering an exceptional produce assortment to our home delivery customers. This is a high-impact role at the intersection of agriculture, operations, and customer experience. What You’ll Do Develop and execute produce sourcing and purchasing strategies to manage seasonal transitions, reduce costs, and ensure consistent product availability Own category performance - including gross margin, in-stock levels, and spoilage/shrink, and use data to continuously improve assortment and seasonal programming Research, evaluate, and negotiate with produce vendors and Pacific Northwest regional/local growers; build and maintain strong, long-term relationships Analyze pricing trends, monitor department budget, and identify cost-saving opportunities given seasonal and weather-driven market volatility Oversee produce inventory levels given short shelf life; manage purchase orders and ensure quality and timely delivery of perishable goods Perform daily walkthroughs of coolers and produce storage areas, with hands‑on product inspection for freshness and quality Negotiate and track vendor promotion allowances and advertising support Ensure compliance with food safety regulations specific to fresh produce handling Evaluate and improve procurement and receiving processes to reduce spoilage and increase efficiency Partner with the Category Director to execute overall produce category vision - assortment, pricing, merchandising, promotions, and margin Share produce expertise with teammates and convey enthusiasm for high‑quality fresh food Requirements What We’re Looking For 5+ years of retail or wholesale produce buying experience; food retail background with produce technical knowledge strongly preferred In-depth knowledge of fresh produce availability, seasonality, and quality standards Knowledge of sustainable, organic agriculture and Pacific Northwest regional growing regions strongly desired Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, agriculture, marketing, or related field — or equivalent experience Proven experience with purchasing ERP systems; NetSuite experience a plus Strong analytical skills with high attention to detail; proficient in Microsoft Excel Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to prioritize in a fast-paced environment Comfortable working across office, ecommerce, warehouse, and cold-storage environments Offer contingent on a successful background check Working Conditions Full-time, Monday-Friday with flexibility to support the team as business needs evolve Daily time spent in a refrigerated warehouse and produce cooler environment Occasional travel for grower/vendor visits or industry events within WA and Portland, OR markets, with seasonal travel to growing regions as needed Summary Let’s get to the Benefits Medical Insurance Vision Insurance 401(k) Retirement Plan with company match #J-18808-Ljbffr Kids for the Future