Return to Vendor Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Company Overview: Mead Lumber Company is a leading provider of products for professional contractors, builders, and remodelers. With 50+ operating locations across nine Midwestern states, we are proud to be 100% employee-owned and ranked as the 12th largest building material supplier to professional builders in the U.S. At Mead Lumber, we strive to create a team that works and succeeds together every day in an authentic, team-oriented setting.

Why Join Us?

• Employee Ownership: As a 100% employee-owned company, you will have a stake in our shared success.
• Work-Life Balance : Enjoy flexible scheduling options that support your lifestyle.
• Career Growth: We are committed to your professional development, providing ongoing learning and advancement opportunities.

Job Summary: The Return to Vendor Specialist manages the return-to-vendor process for damaged, defective, incorrect, excess, and otherwise eligible merchandise. This position inspects products, determines appropriate disposition, obtains and tracks vendor return authorizations, prepares required documentation, coordinates product movement and shipment, monitors vendor credits and claims, and maintains accurate inventory and return records. The role works closely with purchasing, sales, yard, warehouse, delivery, accounts payable, vendors, and management to resolve product issues, protect inventory accuracy, recover vendor credits, and support efficient store operations.

Pay for this Role: $25.00 - $30.00 per hour. 

Key Responsibilities:

Return to Vendor Coordination & Claims  

• Manage return-to-vendor activity from identification through final disposition, including damaged, defective, incorrect, excess, special-order, and other eligible merchandise.
• Obtain and track vendor return authorizations, return instructions, claim numbers, freight arrangements, and other required approvals or documentation.
• Communicate professionally with vendors, purchasing, sales, and management to resolve return questions, disputed claims, high-value items, policy exceptions, and outstanding credits.

Product Inspection & Disposition  

• Inspect lumber, building materials, hardware, tools, and related products for condition, completeness, damage, defects, contamination, and return eligibility.
• Determine whether merchandise should be returned to stock, discounted, held for vendor return, placed in a designated damaged-goods area, or disposed of according to company procedures and vendor requirements.
• Identify concealed damage, missing components, special-order items, non-returnable products, and vendor-specific return requirements, and document findings clearly.
• Coordinate with yard, warehouse, delivery, sales, and purchasing teams to label, stage, move, consolidate, or prepare return merchandise for pickup or shipment while preventing inventory loss or misplacement.

Inventory, Records & Vendor Claims  

• Maintain accurate records of vendor return, return authorizations, claims, credits, inventory adjustments, damaged merchandise, freight issues, and product disposition.
• Complete inventory, order-entry, point-of-sale, and other system transactions promptly and accurately, including required notes, reason codes, quantities, and supporting documentation.
• Prepare and maintain freight-damage documentation, photographs, packing information, bills of landing, claim support, and other vendor-required return documentation.
• Track outstanding vendor returns and credits through completion; reconcile physical product disposition with system records and report discrepancies or aging items to management.
• Identify recurring product quality, freight damage, vendor performance, or return-process issues and communicate trends to purchasing and management.

Customer Return Support, Organization, Safety & Team Support  

• Maintain clean, organized, and secure vendor-return and damaged-product areas with merchandise clearly identified and separated by disposition status.
• Assist with customer-return intake, product verification, and disposition questions as needed, and ensure merchandise approved for resale is returned to the proper bin, rack, showroom, or yard location.
• Operate forklifts and other material-handling equipment only when trained, certified, and authorized, and complete required pre-use inspections.
• Follow all company safety policies, personal protective equipment requirements, lifting practices, traffic controls, and housekeeping standards while working in the store, warehouse, and lumber yard.
• Support customer service, stocking, inventory counts, yard operations, receiving, and other store functions as needed during busy periods.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support business and operational needs.

Qualifications and Requirements:

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Previous experience in customer service, retail, receiving, purchasing, warehouse, yard, construction supply, or lumber and building materials preferred.
• Experience using point-of-sale, order-entry, purchasing, receiving, or inventory management systems preferred.
• Forklift certification required; must maintain certification and authorization in accordance with company policy.

Skills & Competencies

• Working knowledge of lumber, building materials, hardware, construction products, units of measure, and product condition standards is preferred.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and recordkeeping skills.
• Excellent communication, follow-up, judgment, customer service, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to perform basic business math and accurately process quantities, vendor credits, claims, and inventory adjustments.
• Basic computer skills and the ability to learn company point-of-sale, inventory, purchasing, receiving, and communication systems.
• Ability to work independently, follow established policies, manage multiple priorities, and collaborate effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Dependable attendance, professional conduct, and a commitment to protecting customer and company information.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds regularly and request assistance or use material-handling equipment for heavier or awkward items.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, reach, climb, push, pull, and perform repetitive handling throughout the workday.
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions, temperatures, dust, noise, and active vehicle or equipment areas.
• Ability to safely operate in a retail store, warehouse, and lumber yard environment and wear required personal protective equipment.

Once eligible, you will participate in our ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), a unique benefit that can provide a financial source for your future/retirement that very few companies offer.  We also offer our employees competitive pay as well as the benefits listed below:  

Additional Benefits Include:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans

• 100% Employer Paid Group Term Life, AD&D, and STD
• Additional Voluntary Life, AD&D, and LTD
• Paid Time Off & Holiday Pay
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401(k) Plan
• Scholarship & Tuition Assistance Programs
• Employee Assistance Program

Equal Employment Opportunity: Mead Lumber Company is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, sex, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, age, pregnancy, marital status, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, or any other protected basis prohibited by law.