Buyer - Santa Barbara

Job Description

Job Description

Since 1915, Jordano’s Foodservice has grown to become the premier distributor of food, beverages, and culinary equipment in the Tri-Counties. Pacific Beverage Company has proudly distributed a high-quality portfolio of beer and non-alcoholic beverages on the Central Coast since 1946.

Our long-standing success in the foodservice and beverage industries reflects our commitment to building strong, lasting relationships with our customers, suppliers, employees, and community. We are guided by our core values of pride, respect, and integrity , and we strive to uphold these principles in everything we do.

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Director of Purchasing/Marketing, the Buyer is responsible for purchasing products at competitive prices, maintaining acceptable product quality, and supporting reasonable inventory levels in accordance with Jordano’s Foodservice guidelines. This position supports purchasing, inventory, vendor communication, item maintenance, special orders, pricing communication, and related purchasing and marketing coordination.

The Buyer works closely with Category Management, Inventory Control, Sales, Marketing, vendors, and internal departments to help maintain product availability, control obsolete inventory and shrink, support service levels, and communicate market conditions that may impact product cost, availability, or purchasing decisions.

This is an on-site office position based in Santa Barbara, CA. Regular in-person attendance is required Monday through Friday, and this role is not eligible for remote or hybrid work.

Job Information

• Position: Buyer
• Company: Jordano’s Foodservice
• Department: Purchasing
• Location: Santa Barbara, CA
• Employment Type: Full-Time
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Pay Range: $74,000 – $80,000 Annually
• Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.;  on-site attendance is required. This is not a remote or hybrid position.

What You Will Be Doing

• Locate sources of supply, negotiate pricing, and place product orders consistent with Jordano’s Foodservice quality standards and purchasing guidelines.
• Monitor inventory levels daily and place orders according to company guidelines, product movement, service needs, and inventory requirements.
• Review below-minimum reports and take appropriate action to reduce the risk of product out-of-stocks before the next scheduled order is delivered.
• Handle order confirmations, back-in-stock reports, past-due purchase orders, and related purchasing follow-up on a timely basis.
• Support customer service levels by addressing product availability concerns, emergency sourcing needs, and potential out-of-stock situations.
• Monitor obsolete inventory and shrink against established company goals and make recommendations to Category Management regarding discontinued or slow-moving products.
• Review product costs and market conditions to help ensure competitive pricing and timely communication of price increases, decreases, or market changes.
• Manage daily and weekly exception reports, including credit return reports, large adjustment reports, and inventory-related reports requiring follow-up.
• Communicate with Category Management, Sales, Inventory Control, and other internal partners regarding pricing, inventory availability, product issues, and purchasing concerns.
• Handle special orders, including item setup, order tracking, auto-ship coordination, sales communication, and follow-up on special-order inventory.
• Manage special-order inventory on hand, including close-out communication, sales follow-up, vendor coordination, and product disposition as needed.
• Maintain item information, including new item numbers, item notes, product details, and related data in accordance with company guidelines.
• Maintain vendor information, including new vendor setup, vendor notes, price lists, vendor files, and related purchasing documentation.
• Process voucher discrepancies involving purchase order and invoice variances accurately and timely.
• Coordinate vendor damage, spoilage, return, and billing-back processes as needed.
• Work with Inventory Control on day-to-day inventory issues, including product quality concerns, mislabeling, vendor returns, and product disposition.
• Respond to inventory and purchasing questions from Sales, including stock-on-hand status, purchase order due dates, special-order status, and product information.
• Meet with vendors as needed to discuss pricing, product availability, programs, product concerns, or business opportunities.
• Assist Sales with price quotes and product availability information as needed.
• Assist with annual rebate, marketing, and growth program negotiations in coordination with Category Management and the Director of Purchasing/Marketing.
• Coordinate new item communication with Marketing, including information needed for new item flyers, sales notifications, and related promotional materials.
• Proof purchasing, sales, and marketing materials as needed, including broker directories, stocking guides, specialty guides, flyers, and special promotions.
• Attend sales meetings when required to support purchasing, product, vendor, or market-related communication.
• Use company purchasing, inventory, reporting, and office systems, including AS400 or other company-required systems as applicable.
• Perform additional duties as assigned, delegated, or required to support purchasing, marketing, and business operations.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; college coursework or degree in business, supply chain, purchasing, inventory management, foodservice, or a related field preferred.
• Purchasing, buying, inventory control, foodservice distribution, vendor management, supply chain, or related experience preferred.
• Five years of purchasing or related experience preferred.
• Ability to source products, review pricing, evaluate vendor information, and support purchasing decisions in accordance with company guidelines.
• Ability to monitor inventory levels, review reports, identify out-of-stock risks, and take appropriate follow-up action.
• Ability to communicate professionally with vendors, Sales, Category Management, Inventory Control, Marketing, Accounting, and other internal departments.
• Ability to review, interpret, and act on purchasing, inventory, pricing, adjustment, credit return, and exception reports.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, purchase orders, vendor communications, product issues, and internal requests in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to maintain accurate item, vendor, product, pricing, and purchasing records in accordance with company procedures.
• Ability to identify product availability issues, obsolete inventory concerns, shrink issues, pricing changes, and vendor-related concerns and escalate appropriately.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and independent decision-making within assigned purchasing responsibilities.
• Ability to read, understand, and apply company policies, purchasing procedures, vendor documentation, product information, reports, and business correspondence.
• Ability to perform business math, including pricing, cost comparisons, percentages, margins, quantities, inventory values, and related purchasing calculations.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications preferred, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Experience using purchasing, inventory, ERP, reporting, or related business systems preferred.
• Ability to use company purchasing and inventory systems, including AS400 or other company-required systems as applicable.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle vendor, pricing, purchasing, inventory, and company information appropriately.

Physical Requirements

• The Buyer position is an on-site office-based role requiring regular in-person attendance.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, reach, use hands and fingers, operate a computer, use a phone, and communicate for extended periods as needed.
• Ability to review documents, reports, spreadsheets, product information, pricing details, and computer screens for extended periods.
• Ability to occasionally move within office, warehouse, meeting, vendor, or product areas as needed.
• Ability to occasionally lift or move office materials, files, product samples, or related materials.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Work Environment

• Work is performed on-site in an office environment at the company’s Santa Barbara, CA location.
• This position is not remote or hybrid; regular in-person attendance is required Monday through Friday.
• The position may require occasional work in warehouse, product storage, vendor meeting, or sales meeting environments.
• Employees may interact with vendors, internal departments, sales representatives, warehouse personnel, inventory personnel, accounting staff, and leadership.
• Employees are expected to follow all company safety procedures when entering warehouse, dock, storage, or operational areas.

Pre-Employment Requirements

Employment may be contingent upon successful completion of job-related pre-employment requirements, which may include employment eligibility verification, background screening, reference checks, and other requirements in accordance with applicable law and company policy.

What We Offer

Jordano’s offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, financial well-being, and work-life needs of our employees and their families.

Our benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, long-term disability coverage, worksite benefits, and flexible spending accounts for eligible medical and dependent care expenses.

We also offer a 401(k) retirement plan with a generous company match, supporting employees in building long-term financial security.

Growth & Development

We are committed to supporting employee growth and long-term career development. Jordano’s offers continued education, tuition reimbursement, and a collaborative work environment where employees can build new skills, expand their knowledge, and pursue advancement opportunities within the company.

Time Off

We recognize the importance of time both at work and outside of work. Jordano’s provides eligible employees with paid time off benefits, including paid holidays, vacation, sick leave, and other time-off programs designed to support work-life balance.

Start Your Career With Us

At Jordano’s, we strive to put the right products in the right place so our customers and suppliers can grow their business. Be part of a company that provides a safe and positive working environment, open communication, and opportunities for growth.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Jordano’s and Pacific Beverage Company are Equal Opportunity Employers. We are committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.