What are the responsibilities and job description for the Specialist Distribution position at Associated Wholesale Grocers?
Job Description
SUMMARY
The Distribution Specialist serves as the vital liaison between AWG Members, Division Teams, and Warehouse Operations. This role is responsible for ensuring operational excellence by auditing loads for quality and safety, managing credits, and resolving ordering or delivery issues reported by members. As the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for credit analytics, this position utilizes data to investigate root causes and implement strategies that improve the overall customer experience for AWG retailers.
Essential Functions
SUMMARY
The Distribution Specialist serves as the vital liaison between AWG Members, Division Teams, and Warehouse Operations. This role is responsible for ensuring operational excellence by auditing loads for quality and safety, managing credits, and resolving ordering or delivery issues reported by members. As the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for credit analytics, this position utilizes data to investigate root causes and implement strategies that improve the overall customer experience for AWG retailers.
Essential Functions
- Credit & Data Analytics: Serve as the SME for the Credit Analytics and Research Report dashboard, utilizing OSACA and Power BI to analyze trends and resolve root causes of credit problems.
- Quality Assurance & Auditing: Perform load audits at both the warehouse and retail locations to ensure accuracy, safety, and product quality.
- Member Support: Provide excellent customer service via phone, email, and in-person visits to resolve member concerns regarding shipping and delivery.
- Member Training: Educate retailers on essential AWG programs, including Storefront, Delivery Tracker, and Credit Reporting systems.
- Process Improvement: Analyze the "top ten" store list for each credit category to develop initiatives that reduce credits and loss to the company.
- Retail Collaboration: Meet delivery trucks at stores to conduct research and educate retail personnel on AWG processes and order entry accuracy.
- Warehouse Liaison: Work with warehouse management to identify and resolve issues related to stacking, order filling, product rotation, and potential slotting problems.
- Operational Oversight: Ensure all product is delivered by verifying no "left offs" remain on the dock; coordinate with the routing department for immediate delivery of any missed items.
- Ensure all products are delivered, resolving any "left offs" with routing for immediate delivery and credit issuance.
- Train retailers on AWG programs (Storefront, Delivery Tracker, Invoices, Check Off Sheets, Ordering/Credit systems).
- Build retailer relationships to ensure support and question resolution.
- Research special requests from Division Management and Members.
- Collaborate with warehouse management to address issues in stacking, order filling accuracy, product quality, slotting, short-dated product claims, and mis-rotated products.
- Assist sales in disposing of/selling outdated, damaged, and discontinued products per procedures and shrink objectives.
- Work with Division accounting on retailer credit claim issues.
- Provide warehouse management with credit issue information by warehouse and product type.
- Conduct documented store visits to resolve member/retailer questions and implement solutions.
- Experience: Requires 5 years of customer service experience in retail operations and 5 years of grocery experience at the wholesale or retail level.
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree (BA) in Business, Marketing, or Accounting preferred.
- Technical Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office; ability to become an SME in Credit Analytics dashboard in Power BI, and Storefront (AWG member and team member information portal).
- Core Competencies: Strong analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills; ability to work independently and manage a cross-functional schedule.
- Travel & Schedule: Must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to travel extensively (including overnight) with little or no notice.
- Certifications: Must hold a current Food Safety Certification or obtain one within the first 30 days of employment.
- Physical Requirements: Ability to perform bending, squatting, and reaching; must be able to maneuver through tight spaces in retail back-dock areas.